Quick overview of the game
Betting on March Madness hasn’t provided too many matchups like the impending Elite 8 game between No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s and No. 8 seed UNC.
While the Peacocks have become the first 15 seed to reach the quarterfinals, there was little to indicate they were capable of such a run. In the non-conference, Saint Peter’s didn’t play any Power 5 competition and were 0-3 in meetings against Big East schools.
Sports betting guides would tell you that the Tar Heels making this kind of run would be no surprise. UNC has a long history of success, and despite a swoon during February, the Tar Heels are a deep team that is full of talent.
The Tar Heels have finally found the proper way to use said talent down the stretch. UNC has already eliminated two of the teams that made the Final Four last season — Baylor and UCLA — despite having a game where one of its players was ejected. While betting guides don’t show a blueprint for betting this game, there is value when looking at numbers for each team.
Last games records
Saint Peter’s beat Purdue 67-64 on March 25. The Peacocks are 22-11 on the season.
UNC beat UCLA 73-66 March 25. The Tar Heels are 27-9.
Matchup Information
Saint Peter’s vs UNC Betting Analysis
Saint Peter’s Betting Analysis
Saint Peter’s success on the big stage in the NCAA Tournament has been in large part due to its excellent defense. The Peacocks rank 24th nationally in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score 62.4 points per game. Opponents only shoot 39.1 percent from the field, which ranks 18th nationally, and 30 percent, which is 26th nationally from the 3-point line.
Despite playing a Purdue team that had Saint Peter’s badly outsized, the Boilermakers found the same struggles all the Peacocks’ opponents had to wrestle with.
Purdue only shot 23.8 percent from the perimeter. While the Boilermakers dominated the glass, outrebounding Saint Peter’s 37-26, the Peacocks’ defense was able to force Purdue into 15 turnovers.
Daryl Banks III leads Saint Peter’s in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game, while KC Nfedo is the only other Peacock to average in double figures, contributing 10.7 points per game.
UNC Betting Analysis
The Tar Heels won six of their last seven games, including the regular season and ACC Tournament. UNC has looked like world-beaters and didn’t fade despite trailing at halftime of its Sweet 16 matchup with UCLA, which had made the Final Four last season.
The Tar Heels shot at a worse percentage than the Bruins but outrebounded UCLA by nine and made twice as many 3-pointers to score a victory over their fellow blue bloods. UNC has so many options on offense. The Tar Heels have four players who average in double figures.
Forward Armando Bacot leads UNC by averaging 16.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. The Tar Heels were led by Caleb Love, who averages 15.3 points per game against UCLA. Love scored a team-high 30 points against the Bruins and made two big 3-pointers in the final two minutes to seal the victory.
Team Updates:
There are no injuries of note for either team.
- Saint Peter’s is 23-9 against the spread.
- UNC is 18-16-1 against the spread.
- The over has a record of 13-19 against the total in the Peacocks’ games.
- The over has a record of 21-14 against the total in the Tar Heels’ games.
- Saint Peter’s is 16-5 against the spread following a win.
- UNC is 13-12 against the spread following a win.
Saint Peter’s vs UNC Betting Preview
March Madness betting odds have UNC as an eight-point favorite. Anyone looking to place different kinds of March Madness bets can also wager on the over/under, which is set at 136.5 points.
Saint Peter’s vs UNC Betting Prediction
National Peacock Day went way better than any Saint Peter’s fan could have predicted. The Peacocks showed their mental toughness, rallied from a halftime deficit, and score a big upset over a Big Ten program.
Saint Peter’s making history has a lot of people swept up in the possibility of the Peacocks joining programs from mid-major conferences like VCU, George Mason, Butler, and Gonzaga by shattering the glass ceiling and reaching the Final Four.
However, Saint Peter’s has run into a program that might be running even hotter than the Peacocks are. North Carolina has been playing at a top level for over a month. The Tar Heels aren’t nearly reliant on their play in the posts as Purdue was.
As a result, UNC’s offense will have more ways to attack Saint Peter’s excellent defense. The Tar Heels will be the team to knock this Cinderella from their perch.
But while Saint Peter’s run may be coming to an end, what this group accomplished won’t be something college basketball fans forget any time soon.
Bet UNC -8.
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