Will North Carolina cover vs. Texas Southern? March Madness 3/17/17

Texas Southern vs. North Carolina Pick

Will No. 1 North Carolina face any resistance when it takes on No. 16 Texas Southern today at 4PM ET in the NCAA Tournament?

According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, UNC is the clear favorite, as the Heels are getting odds of -26.5 points against Texas Southern. The over/under total for the game is listed at 154.5 points. This game will take part in the South Region and air on TNT from Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

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North Carolina is coming off a 93-83 loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament, its second loss of the season to the Blue Devils. Still, the Tar Heels are 27-7 overall and won the ACC regular-season crown. UNC was 16-14-2 against the spread during the season and just 6-10-1 ATS away from Chapel Hill. The Heels averaged 84.3 points per game this season while allowing 70.9 on defense. Justin Jackson has been leading the team this season with 18.1 points per game while Kennedy Meeks adds 12.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

Texas Southern comes into the tournament winners of nine straight and champions of the SWAC. The Tigers went 23-11 on the season and played in just eight lined games. They were 5-3 against the spread overall, but 4-0 ATS away from home. The Tigers averaged 74.4 points per game this season while allowing 71.8 on defense. Zach Lofton has led the team with 17 points per game while Demontrae Jefferson adds 14.9 points per game.

Bet on March Madness

The measuring stick for No. 1 seeds has been 20 points so far, as Villanova and Gonzaga both won by that margin, but both struggled in the first half of their respective games. 26.5 points is a lot to cover, but the Tar Heels have the offense to do it. Texas Southern gave up nearly 80 points per game away from home this season and facing a UNC team that has so many scoring options and has had a week to stew over a loss to Duke. You can bet the Heels are ready to take out some frustrations on a lackluster opponent.

 

MARCH MADNESS PREDICTION: NORTH CAROLINA -26.5