Who is your favorite to win the college basketball national championship this season? If we asked that question to everyone visiting this page, we would probably get a lot of different answers, mostly because this season has been incredibly tough to predict. We have seen numerous changes at the top of the national rankings over the past few weeks, and you really could make a solid case for as many as 10 different teams ahead of the start of the tournament.
Two of the teams who are very much at the top of the list in terms of NCAA Basketball Betting favorites will be going head to head this weekend, with the Duke Blue Devils making the short trip to the UNC campus to face their bitter rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels. This is one of the most iconic match-ups in any sports, but it’s fair to suggest that the stakes have been raised, as both of these teams are looking at landing a #1 seed when the bracket is released. This game will also play a role in deciding who wins the ACC regular season title, so it’s all to play for.
Duke vs North Carolina NCAAB Odds, Preview & Expert Pick
Clutch buckets. #DukeMBBTop5 💪💪💪👌🤯 pic.twitter.com/gJcBGiLiqP
— Duke Basketball (@DukeMBB) 6 de marzo de 2019
- When: Saturday, March 9 at 6 PM EST
- Where: Dean E, Smith Center, Chapel Hill
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: WatchESPN
- NCAAB Odds: TBA
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Why bet on the Duke Blue Devils?
Word out of the Duke camp is that Zion Williamson is ready to go after missing some time with a knee injury, but the likelihood of him playing in this one seems to be rather slim.There really is nothing of any great importance at stake in this one, so why try to rush him back when he can get some meaningful minutes in the ACC tournament? Even with the big man out for a few weeks, the Blue devils have still put together an impressive 26-4 record, going 14-3 in the ACC, good enough for 3rd, one game back of the leaders. This will be a revenge game for Duke, as they lost 88-72 to UNC in the game where Williamson was initially hurt. Duke is 7-1 SU on the road this season, as well as being 5-3 ATS.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 84.60
- Field Goal Percentage: 48.03
- Three-Point Percentage: 30.86
- Free Throw Percentage: 68.90
- Total Rebounds: 41.87
Defense
- Total Score: 67.00
- Field Goal Percentage: 39.50
- Three-Point Percentage: 28.75
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.01
- Total Rebounds: 35.33
Why bet on the North Carolina Tar Heels?
While the North Carolina Tar Heels would love nothing more than to complete the regular season sweep against their biggest rivals, there are bigger reasons for getting the win here. They still have a shot at landing the ACC regular season title, plus they will almost certainly be in as a #1 seed when the bracket is released if they can pull out the win on Saturday night.
The Tar Heels are finishing the season strong, coming into this one on a 6-game win streak that has taken their ACC Conference record to 15-2, tied for first with the Virginia Cavaliers. As always, UNC has been tough to beat in their own building, going 13-2 SU, while also putting together a 7-6-2 record ATS on home court.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 86.83
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.79
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.15
- Free Throw Percentage: 74.53
- Total Rebounds: 43.37
Defense
- Total Score: 73.10
- Field Goal Percentage: 41.43
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.54
- Free Throw Percentage: 68.69
- Total Rebounds: 33.17
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Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Duke vs North Carolina
This is without a doubt the biggest game on the Saturday schedule, as there is an awful lot at stake in this one. I think that the Tar Heels have the edge at home, and while I think they will win, I believe it will be a whole lot closer than the earlier meeting between these two.
Score: Duke Blue Devils 76 – North Carolina Tar Heels 80
