The visiting Duke Blue Devils have a 6.5-point spread cushion as they travel up the road to face hated rival North Carolina but the total could be the best bet if recent history repeats itself.
The past six meetings of these North Carolina rivals have all played UNDER the total, which sat around 156.5 at press time Wednesday.
The No. 10-ranked Blue Devils look to avoid consecutive losses for the first time in three years. They face a hot team in the fifth-ranked Tar Heels, who have won five in a row.
Anyone looking to bet Duke on the college basketball moneyline should be aware the UNC has won 31 straight at home.
View Duke vs North Carolina Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
The Tar Heels were listed as 7-point favorites at most sportsbooks like Sportsbook but Duke bettors had pushed the number down. The total was around 156 over at Sportsbook.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Tar Heels - Blue Devils odds would favor the Tar Heels if the lines were set according to our power ranks. North Carolina is rated No. 7 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Duke is at No. 46. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 92-86 win for the Tar Heels.
How They Match Up:
Rebounding is always a key handicapping consideration and Blue Devils is ranked No. 104 in NCAA hoops at 36 per game. Contrast that with North Carolina’s No. 1 mark in the paint. When it comes to three-point shooting, North Carolina is the No. 255-ranked team in the country at 5.3 per game, while Duke rates No. 43 at 7.9 per game.
Defensively, Duke features the nation's No. 184-rated defense on the road, allowing 70.7 points per game. North Carolina, meanwhile, comes in at No. 4 nationally in scoring at home.
Duke was a 78-74 loser in its last match at home against Miami. They failed to cover the 12-point spread as favorites. Seth Curry scored 22 points in a futile effort to lead the Blue Devils to a win (they lost 78-74 to Miami at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday).
North Carolina won its last outing, an 83-74 result against Maryland on February 4. They failed to cover in that game as a 11.5-point favorite. North Carolina got 22 points from Tyler Zeller en route to an 83-74 victory over Maryland on Saturday at Comcast Center.
Duke Blue Devils Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
Before playing Maryland are 7-3
After playing Miami are 9-1
After a loss are 10-0
North Carolina Tar Heels Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 8-2
Before playing Virginia are 8-2
After playing Maryland are 8-2
After a win are 9-1
A few Blue Devils at Tar Heels trends to consider:
Duke is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Duke's last 5 games when playing on the road against North Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Duke's last 10 games on the road
Duke is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against North Carolina
North Carolina is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
North Carolina is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of North Carolina's last 5 games when playing Duke
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of North Carolina's last 5 games when playing at home against Duke
Next up:
Duke home to Maryland, Saturday, February 11
North Carolina home to Virginia, Saturday, February 11
