In this ACC matchup, the unranked North Carolina Tar Heels take on the 13th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in the first of two meetings this season.
The Tar Heels have been on a roll lately, with back-to-back wins and four in their last five games. Virginia has been great all year long but has lost two games in their last five.
Both teams are some of the best NCAA basketball teams and have different playing styles and strengths, which should make for a great game and one of the best NCAA basketball games today.
With both teams carrying 11 wins, who will get their 12th first?
We have all you need to know about NC vs Virginia picks.
NC Tar Heels vs. Virginia Cavaliers Matchup Information
NC Tar Heels vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Location of the game: John Paul Jones Arena. Charlottesville, VA.
Time: Tuesday, January 10, 2023. 9:00 P.M. EST.
How to Watch: ESPN.
According to the college basketball standings, NC Tar Heels are currently 11-5 this season and are unranked. The Virginia Cavaliers are 11-3 and are ranked at 13 so far. Check out our breakdown and analysis of NC vs Virginia picks below.
NC Tar Heels vs. Virginia Cavaliers Betting Analysis
NC Tar Heels Performance Recap and Analysis
So far this year, the NC Tar Heels odds have been all over the map but in recent games have been either favored or narrow underdogs. The NCAAB schedule has been kind to them lately, as they have won four of their last five games and have been bettering their NCAAB odds.
Armando Bacot will continue to be the guy to watch tonight as he leads the Tar Heels in points and rebounds this season and finished the last game with 21 PTS, 13 REB, 2 BLK, 52.94 FG%.
Bacot will look for support from Caleb Love, who managed 18 PTS last game and is averaging 16.9 PPG on the season.
Key Injuries
No injured players
With a healthy roster and some hot play lately, will the Tar Heels be able to grab their third straight win?
These questions will be answered in our NC vs Virginia picks breakdown.
Betting Trends to Know
- The Tar Heels are 5-11-0 against the spread this year
- North Carolina has not covered the spread when playing as at least 4.5-point underdogs (0-1)
- Ten of their 16 games have gone over this year
- The Tar Heels’ win/loss record on the road is 0-3
- Tar Heels are 2-2 in their last five games against the spread
- The total hit OVER in three of the Tar Heels’ last four games
Virginia Cavaliers Performance Recap and Analysis
The 13th-ranked Cavaliers have a challenge tonight but have been great at home with a 7-1 record. Along with being ranked versus their non-ranked opponent, Virginia has overall more college basketball experience and better team chemistry due to their 3.52 years of experience as a whole versus the Tar Heels’ 2.92.
With two losses in their last five games, the Cavaliers will look to get back in the right lane and will use their home court to their advantage.
Kihei Clark will be the player to watch from Virginia tonight as he leads Virginia Cavaliers stats in PPG (11.4) and APG (6.3). He had just five points, but 11 assists last game and will look to get back in the scoring column.
His playmaking makes him one of the most fun college basketball players to watch, and he should be the one to watch when the March Madness schedule comes out.
Key Injuries
No injured players
With no players on the college basketball injury report and on their home court, will the Cavaliers get back to some consistency? Read on to find out.
Betting Trends to Know
- Virginia is 4-10 against the spread this season
- The Cavaliers’ O/U record this season is 8-6
- The Cavaliers are 1-9 in their last ten games against the spread
- The total has gone over in three of the Cavaliers’ last five games
- The total has gone over in two of the Cavaliers’ six last games at home
NC Tar Heels vs. Virginia Cavaliers Odds
NC Tar Heels vs. Virginia Cavaliers Betting Picks
Moneyline: NC Tar Heels ML
We expect a close and exciting match, with the value being on the Tar Heels getting the W tonight.
Over/Under: Over 135.0 Points
We should see a lot of scoring, so it makes sense to go with over here.
Spread: NC Tar Heels +4.5
We have already picked Tar Heels in the Moneyline market, so it makes sense to also go with them on the spread. Bet on Tar Heels to keep it close with +4.5 points.
NC Tar Heels vs. Virginia Cavaliers Score Prediction
In this ACC battle, the NC Tar Heels may be unranked, but they should not be taken lightly as they take on the Virginia Cavaliers, who are currently ranked at 13. Both teams have been playing great all season, with 11 wins each.
The Tar Heels have been playing excellent basketball lately, with four wins in their last five games, while the Cavaliers have lost two games in their last five.
The biggest factor in this game is the location, as the Cavaliers have been great at home this year with an overall record of 7-1 in John Paul Jones Arena. The Tar Heels, on the other hand, have struggled in their road games this year with a 0-3 record so far.
While the Cavaliers have a better chance of winning this game, covering the spread may not be as easy. They have only covered against the spread once in their last ten games and none in their last six home games.
Look for this to be a close game and possibly up to the final seconds of the game. Take the Tar Heels to cover.
Correct Score Pick: Tar Heels 87 – 83 Cavaliers
NCAAB Pick: NC Tar Heels +4.5 (-110)
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