Northern Iowa vs. North Carolina odds, picks and predictions
The Northern Iowa Panthers (1-2) and North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0) meet Wednesday at Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas. Tip-off is scheduled for noon ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Northern Iowa vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Panthers are coming off a 74-65 loss at South Florida on Sunday, failing to cover as a 2.5-point underdog. In 2 games against Division I teams, UNI is 0-2 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS), while splitting the Over-Under 1-1.
The Tar Heels wore their Carolina blue jerseys at the Dean Dome in a rare scene, belting UC Riverside by a 77-52 count to grab their first cover of the season as a 23.5-point favorite on Friday night. UNC also topped Radford and Lehigh to start, although it went 0-2 ATS in those outings. The Under has cashed in 2 straight for the Heels.
North Carolina is No. 14 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
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Northern Iowa vs. North Carolina odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:26 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Northern Iowa +540 (bet $100 to win $540) | North Carolina -800 (bet $800 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Northern Iowa +11.5 (-106) | North Carolina -11.5 (-114)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Northern Iowa vs. North Carolina picks and predictions
Prediction
North Carolina 82, Northern Iowa 64
Moneyline
North Carolina (-800) will cost you 8 times your potential return, which is too much risk and not nearly enough reward. Betting such heavy favorites over the long haul is not a recommended strategy, as your winning percentage will be tremendous, but your return on investment (ROI) will still be in the negative.
PASS, and look to the spread instead.
Against the spread
NORTH CAROLINA -11.5 (-110) is a strong play laying the points, and it's surprising that the number isn't a little bit higher. Northern Iowa +11.5 (-110) has failed to cover either of its previous games against Division I opponents North Texas and South Florida, falling by least 6 points in each of those outings. UNC is a huge step up in competition.
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Over/Under
UNDER 148.5 (-105) is worth playing lightly.
UNI cashed the Under against South Florida last time out, hitting just 39% (22 of 56) from the field, including a dismal 18% (5 of 28) from behind the 3-point line.
Carolina has hit the Under in each of the past 2 games, too, limiting Riverside to just 52 points in the most recent outing, and it has held all 3 opponents to 70 points or less.
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