North Carolina faces a scrappy Kentucky team that just beat the tournament's best team Friday, when the teams meet Sunday with a spot in the Final Four at stake.
If history between these two teams is any indicator, the Tar Heels will cover the spread, as they are 7-0 ATS past 7 games vs the Wildcats.
Kentucky upset Ohio State behind a superb effort from their unheralded seniors, while UNC blasted Marquette. Kentucky opened as small favorites at Sportsbook while the UNDER bettors have forced the number down for 147.5 to about 146 at Sportsbook.
View Kentucky vs North Carolina Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
On the Sportsbook NCAAB line for this matchup, North Carolina sat as 1.5-point underdogs with considerable early action on Kentucky.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 8-ranked Tar Heels and the No. 4-rated Wildcats in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 83-80 win for the Wildcats on Sunday.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits North Carolina's No. 19-ranked offense, averaging 77.8 PPG, against a Wildcats defense that ranks No. 56 at 63.5 PPG. The Tar Heels field goal percentage has averaged 45.1% so far, less than the Wildcats marksmen have achieved on the year, 46.2% per game.
Defensively, Kentucky features the nation's No. 53-rated defense on the road, allowing 65.6 points per game. North Carolina, meanwhile, comes in at No. 27 nationally in scoring at home.
Last time out for Kentucky, they were a 62-60 Sportsbook as they battled Ohio State on the road. They covered in the match as a 5.5-point underdog. Kentucky earned a 62-60 victory over Ohio State on Friday, getting 17 points from Josh Harrellson at Prudential Center.
North Carolina was an 81-63 Sportsbook in its last match against Marquette. They covered the 4–point spread as favorites.
Kentucky Wildcats Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
After playing Ohio State are 1-0
After a win are 9-1
North Carolina Tar Heels Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 9-1
After playing Marquette are 1-0
After a win are 9-1
A few Wildcats at Tar Heels trends to consider:
North Carolina is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
North Carolina is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Kentucky
North Carolina is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games
