Tobacco Road supremacy is once again on the line when the UNC Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils face off for the first time this season on Thursday. Duke has traditionally picked up the W in this intense rivalry with wins in 11 of the past 15, but UNC did win the most recent matchup to claim the ACC regular season championship last season.
- UNC is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road against Duke.
- Duke is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games against teams with winning records.
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Duke's last 10 games.
Mike Krzyzewski will be on the bench for the second time after missing nearly a month following a back surgery. Coach K and the Cameron Crazies witnessed the Blue Devils’ third straight victory in their last outing, as Duke held Pitt to 64 points and 2-of-14 shooting from deep. Grayson Allen has quietly been rounding into form recently, with the junior averaging 20.3 points while shooting 44.6 percent from three in the past three. In two games against UNC last season, Allen scored 23 and 29 respectively, but his high-volume approach saw him post a 39.1 shooting percentage.
UNC enters this affair with a half-game lead in the ACC standings and only one loss in its past 10 outings. Justin Jackson has asserted himself as the go-to guy for the Tar Heels, as the junior has averaged 20.7 points in the past nine while eclipsing the 20-point plateau on six occasions. Keep an eye on the health of Theo Pinson. Pinson has only played six games this season due to injury but is close to returning and he has the size and athleticism to cause issues for Allen and Luke Kennard.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to side with the Duke Blue Devils to cover the point spread in this one found them as -1.5-point favorites earlier in the day. Watch for line moves and updates at Sportsbook before gametime.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs Duke Blue Devils Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The 18-5 and 9-13 ATS Duke Blue Devils will face the 21-4 North Carolina Tar Heels, who own a 13-12 ATS mark on the season. In totals betting, the Duke Blue Devils are 10-12 on the OVER/UNDER so far this season while the North Carolina Tar Heels are 10-15.
The Blue Devils - Tar Heels odds would favor the Tar Heels if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Duke is rated No. 29 in the current Odds Shark poll, while North Carolina is at No. 11.
Statistical Matchup
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Duke has the nation's No. 18-rated offensive output, at 82.52 PPG. The visiting North Carolina Tar Heels defense ranks No. 129 allowing on average 71.56 PPG. The Blue Devils FG% has averaged 48.16% so far, more than the Duke Tar Heels marksmen have achieved on the year, 47.3% per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
North Carolina earned a 83-76 victory over Notre Dame on Sunday, getting 16 points from Justin Jackson at Dean Smith Center.
The Blue Devils got 21 points from Grayson Allen as Duke ran past Pittsburgh 72-64 on Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
- North Carolina is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- North Carolina is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of North Carolina's last 5 games
- North Carolina is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Duke is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
- Duke is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Duke's last 10 games
- Duke is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
North Carolina at North Carolina State, Wednesday, February 15th
Duke at Clemson, Saturday, February 11th
