Overview
College basketball team stats will show that losing to Pittsburgh on Feb. 16 may have lit the competitive fire for the UNC basketball team. The Tar Heels, who appeared they could be headed for the NCAA Tournament bubble after the loss to the Panthers, have reeled off three consecutive wins to move to third place in the ACC standings. UNC is in an excellent position to keep the good times rolling.
The Tar Heels’ opponent Monday night, Syracuse, has lost two straight. The Orange are in a unique position under 46th year head coach Jim Boeheim.
Syracuse is 15-14 and are fighting desperately to avoid having their first losing season under Boeheim, who took over as coach in 1963. The Orange will need to find its best defensive efforts to spoil another party on the road.
Last games records
Syracuse lost to Duke 97-72 on Feb. 26 at home. The Orange are 15-14 overall and 9-9 in ACC play. UNC beat NC State 84-74 Feb. 26. The Tar Heels are 21-8 overall and 13-5 in ACC play
Matchup Information:
Syracuse at North Carolina Betting Analysis
Syracuse Orange Betting Analysis
Betting trends show that Syracuse is 3-7 on the road this season and are 0-5 all-time in Chapel Hill. The Orange have been working senior guard Buddy Boeheim over this season. Boeheim, who leads the team by scoring 19.1 points per game, is fifth in Division I and first in the ACC in minutes played, punching the clock with 37.55 minutes per game.
The Orange have three players in the starting lineup — Buddy Boeheim along with Jimmy Boheim (13.4 points per game) and Jesse Edwards (12.0) — who average in double figures scoring.
Syracuse is a strong offensive team, scoring 76.8 points per game and knocking down 8.8 3-pointers per contest. The Orange also protect the ball well, only turning the ball over 10.8 times per game on average. The Orange’s problems come on defense, where they are a disaster.
Syracuse allows 74.8 points per game. The Orange also have a hard time stopping their opponents’ perimeter shooting, allowing their opponents to make 10.5 3-pointers per game.
North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Analysis
UNC’s reinvigorated lineup is led by conference player-of-the-year candidate Armando Bacot, who averages 16.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. Bacot is on pace to lead the ACC in field goal percentage; Bacot shoots 59.1 percent from the field and rebounding. The Tar Heels have been an impressive offensive group collectively.
UNC, which averages 77.7 points per game, shoots 45.9 percent from the field, ranking 86th nationally. However, where the Tar Heels shine is the 3-point line, where they shoot the 35th best percentage nationally by knocking down 37.3 percent of their 3-point shots. UNC is 10-0 this season when it shoots better than 50 percent from the field.
Bacot has plenty of support to help with the scoring. Caleb Love (16.7 points per game) and Brady Manek (14.0) have provided the Tar Heels with several robust options.
Team Updates
UNC has already clinched a bye in the first round of the ACC Tournament, and a win over the Orange would provide the Tar Heels with a double-bye.
- Syracuse is 14-15 against the spread.
- UNC is 13-15-1 against the spread.
- The Orange have seen the total go over in 14 of their 29 games.
- The Tar Heels have seen the over go 17-11-1 in their games.
Syracuse at North Carolina
Betting information shows UNC has been a team that has been able to get up and down the floor and into some wars with teams this season. The Orange aren’t above getting a back-and-forth slugfest where defense takes a backseat to long-range shooting.
The Tar Heels showed in their last victory over N.C. State that they understand the ACC is down this year, and every win will matter to make the NCAA Tournament.
The Tar Heels have been pegged as a 7.5-point favorite. The over/under has been set at 157 points.
Syracuse at North Carolina Betting Prediction
Syracuse isn’t going to be able to keep up with North Carolina on the road. The Tar Heels have a deeper, more talented, and athletic squad. While the Boheim brigade would like to try and steal one on the road, it will be difficult for Syracuse to keep up with UNC.
The Tar Heels will cover the 7.5-point spread easily and capture their fourth straight win and earn another day of rest in the ACC Tournament.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.