North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh Prediction
Can No. 15 North Carolina go on the road and stroll past Pittsburgh when the two open up ACC play against each other today at Noon ET?
607 North Carolina vs. 608 Pittsburgh
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Noon ET – Petersen Events Center
TV: ACC Network
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, North Carolina is favored on the road, as the Tar Heels are getting odds of -8.5 points against Pittsburgh. The over/under total for the game is listed at 154.5 points. The public betting currently has 52 percent going on the Panthers as the home underdog. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
UNC struggling against top teams
North Carolina has played a competitive schedule this season, but the Tar Heels haven’t been able to get on a big win streak yet due to losses to Kentucky, Michigan and Texas. UNC is 10-3 on the season, 2-1 on the road, 7-4-2 against the spread and 8-5 with the over.
The Tar Heels have one of the top offenses in the country. They rank fifth in scoring at 90.3 points per game while shooting 48.1 percent as a team. They also are the third-leading rebounding team in the nation at 44.7 per game. Defensively, UNC is giving up 73.1 points per game. Cameron Johnson has been leading the team this season with 16.4 points per game while Luke Maye is adding 14.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Panthers beating up bad teams
Pittsburgh is riding a three-game win streak coming into today, but the wins come against teams that were double-digit underdogs to the Panthers. Pittsburgh is 10-3 on the season, 8-1 at home, 10-2-1 against the spread and 8-5 with the under.
The Panthers have a strong defensive team, allowing just 62.2 points per game while opponents shoot only 37.3 percent from the field and 27.6 percent from the arc. Offensively, Pittsburgh is putting up 77.4 points per game while shooting 46.3 percent as a team. Xavier Johnson is leading the team with 16.3 points and 5.0 assists per game while Jared Wilson-Frame adds 12.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest.
College Basketball Betting Trends
North Carolina
UNC is 5-2 against the spread in its last seven road games and 3-1-1 ATS in its last five games overall.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last six home games and 4-1 ATS in its last five ACC games.
Prediction:
Pittsburgh has struggled with respectable teams, suffering losses to West Virginia, Iowa and Niagara. The Tar Heels are much more battled tested and should be able to handle this spread on the road. UNC has too much offense, even for a good Pitt defense. The Panthers haven’t seen an offense like this and I don’t think they can possibly keep pace with the Heels.
College Basketball Prediction: North Carolina -8.5