The North Carolina Tar Heels are looking for their first regular season conference crown in four years, but will need to beat up on some weaker opponents to head into the playoffs strong. However, UNC is not a safe bet as a big favorite, as the Tar Heels are just 1-6 ATS in their past seven games as faves of 12.5 points or more. North Carolina opened as 12.5-point favorites for their game against the Syracuse Orange at Chapel Hill Monday.
- The UNDER is 9-3 in North Carolina’s past 12 games.
- Syracuse is 9-3 SU in their past 12 games within the ACC.
- Syracuse is 4-1 ATS in their past five games on the road.
Chapel Hill has been great to the Tar Heels this season as the team is 14-1 SU while outscoring opponents by an average of 19.1 points. Despite these dominating victories, North Carolina is just 6-8-1 ATS at home as they have faced an average closing spread of -22.1 in Chapel Hill this season while their average scoring margin is inflated by games against weaker opposition.
If Syracuse wants to upset UNC, they will need to tighten up a defense that fell apart when these teams first met this season. The Orange kept it tight through the first half in that game, but allowed 58 points in the second half to lose 93-83. Senior Michael Gbinije is coming off his best performance of the season, in which he scored 34 points and shot 61.1 percent from the floor.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
On the Sportsbook NCAA basketball betting line for this matchup, North Carolina sat as -11.5-point favorites over at Sportsbook. Also, check out the current over/under betting total for points scored, which often goes up first at online sportsbook Sportsbook
Syracuse Orange vs North Carolina Tar Heels Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
North Carolina Tar Heels battles the Syracuse Orange, currently sitting with a 19-10 mark (14-14 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, always important for totals betting, are 16-13 for the North Carolina Tar Heels and 15-13 for the Syracuse Orange.
The Tar Heels - Orange odds would favor the Tar Heels if the lines were set according to our power ranks. North Carolina is rated No. 47 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Syracuse is at No. 96.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up North Carolina's No. 8 nationally ranked offense (83.41 points per game) against a Syracuse Orange defense that sits as the No. 25 at 64.76 PPG. The North Carolina Tar Heels have been averaging 48.35% from the field, more than the Orange have managed so far this season (42.43% on average).
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Michael Gbinije poured in a team-high 34 points for Syracuse on Saturday, as they defeated North Carolina State 75-66 at Carrier Dome.
The Tar Heels got 21 points from Joel Berry II, but it was Virginia that prevailed in a 79-74 final on Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena.
- Syracuse is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
- Syracuse is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Syracuse's last 5 games
- Syracuse is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- North Carolina is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games
- North Carolina is 16-4 SU in its last 20 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of North Carolina's last 8 games
- North Carolina is 21-1 SU in its last 22 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Syracuse at Florida State, Saturday, March 5th
North Carolina at Duke, Saturday, March 5th
