The Virginia Cavaliers are 5-0 SU and ATS in their last five home games against the North Carolina Tar Heels and are 4-0 SU and ATS against them in the last four meetings between these two teams overall. Virginia will try to extend these winning streaks this Sunday.
- Date/Time: December 8, 4:00 PM ET
- Stadium: John Paul Jones Arena
- TV Coverage: ACCN
- Sportsbook Odds: Virginia -5 | O/U 114
- North Carolina vs Virginia Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The line has moved only a half-point from its opener with the Cavaliers now going off as 5-point favorites at home. The OVER has been a popular bet this week, driving the line from its opener of 114 points up to 116 points. The UNDER is 7-1 in Virginia’s last eight games played on a Sunday.
North Carolina News & Notes
Since Sportsbook the 2019-20 season with a 5-0 record, the North Carolina Tar Heels have lost two of their last three games to the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes. In between those two losses, the Tar Heels picked up a 78-74 upset win over the Oregon Ducks, fueled by Armando Bacot’s 23-point and 12-rebound performance.
Bacot violently sprained his ankle in the Tar Heels’ disastrous 74-49 home loss to the Buckeyes. His team-leading 8.9 rebounds per game will be missed on Sunday. Cole Anthony leads the team in scoring with 20 points per game and will need to have a big game if the Tar Heels hope to snap out of their current 0-7 ATS slump in their last seven road games against Virginia.
Virginia News & Notes
Year in and year out under head coach Tony Bennett, the Virginia Cavaliers boast an elite team defense. This season is no different as the Cavaliers have allowed only 43.9 points per game, the lowest total in the nation. The defending NCAA champions allowed over 55 points for the first time all season and fell to 7-1 on the season in a 69-40 loss on the road to the Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday.
With Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, DeAndre Hunter all departed to the NBA this offseason, the Cavaliers have been trying to replace the offense of last season’s three top scorers. Senior forward Mamadi Diakite is leading the way with 13.4 points and seven rebounds per game. Virginia is 0-6 ATS over its last six games since starting the season off with a 2-0 ATS record.
Betting Pick: Virginia -5
Both teams are coming into this one off of disappointing losses and disappointing ATS showings of late. But at home against a team they’ve enjoyed plenty of recent success against, the Cavaliers should have the edge.
- North Carolina is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games.
- The UNDER has hit in 5 of the last 6 games in this matchup.
- Virginia is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 games at home vs UNC.
