Expert prediction
No. 17 North Carolina vs No. 1 Duke Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 7)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Tar Heels have a shaky 4-5 record in official road games this season.
- The Blue Devils secured the ACC regular-season title.
- This marks the 267th all-time meeting between the ACC programs.
The ACC will have an exciting ranked showdown between the No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels and the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils. The hosts stand out as the dominant favorite in the game, but this ACC contest will present intriguing factors for both squads to emphasize and earn a quality win on its resume.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, March 7, 6:30 pm ET
- Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
- How to Watch: ESPN
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | -108 | +17.5 | O147 |
| Duke | -112 | -17.5 | U147 |
Game Preview
The No. 17 Tar Heels (24-6, 12-5 ACC) won’t be in the mix for the regular-season title but can still compete for a favorable position ahead of the conference tournament. They remain without Caleb Wilson, who underwent an operation on his hand as he will miss the rest of the season. North Carolina ranks fourth in the league and is 27th in the nation in defensive rebounding, averaging 27.4 per contest. Henri Veesaar is second in the ACC in double-doubles with 13, averaging 16.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Seth Trimble, averaging 14.5 points per game, has produced 19.7 points in the Tar Heels’ last three victories.
The No. 1 Blue Devils (28-2, 16-1 ACC) maintain their hold over the top spot of the AP Top 25 as the ACC regular-season champions, torching Virginia and NC State in convincing blowouts. Cameron Boozer is the nation’s seventh-leading scorer with 22.6 points per game, and tops the ACC in rebounding (10.0 rpg), is eighth in steals (1.6 spg), 13th in assists (4.0 apg) and third in field goal percentage (.583). Meanwhile, Isaiah Evans ranks second in the ACC in free-throw percentage (.888) and is the ACC’s 13th-leading scorer in conference play, averaging 16.5 points per league game.
North Carolina vs Duke Head-to-Head
The two programs have had 266 meetings in their history, and the result is 146-120 for the Tar Heels. The last matchup was in February this year when North Carolina secured a 71-68 win at home.
North Carolina vs Duke Predictions
This historic showdown will be entertaining as North Carolina looks for better positioning ahead of the ACC Tournament. Duke has already secured its place as the regular-season champion and the top seed for the tournament, looking forward to its adventure in league play. Nonetheless, they will look to avenge their previous loss to North Carolina this time around, especially in front of the home crowd. Our betting pick here is the Blue Devils to defend a 17.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Duke Blue Devils -17.5
NCAAB
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