Wolfpack vs Tar Heels NCAAB Handicapping Prediction
UNC (16-3) has beaten North Carolina State (15-5) 10 straight times and to get to 11 they will have to do so without starting G Dexter Strickland, who tore his ACL and is out for the season.
Venue/ Stadium: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
Time/Date: 7 PM EST Thursday, January 26, 2011
NCAA Odds From: BetOnline
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): UNC -13
Over/Under: 158.5
North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels Preview
He is one of the team’s best defenders and he will be missed facing a Wolfpack team that ranks 33rd in the nation in scoring. NCAAB lines have UNC as a 13-point favorite in this game with a total of 158.5.
In their last games UNC got over their embarrassing loss to Florida State by beating Virginia Tech 82-68 and NC State won their 3rd straight beating Miami 78-73.
This season NC State is 8-8 ATS and they have an O/U record of 10-6 and UNC is 10-8 ATS with an O/U record of 9-9.
The Tar Heels have won 29 straight home games.
The big question in this ACC match up is can the Wolfpack keep the Tar Heels from lighting up the scoreboard and dominating the boards? The Tar Heels rank 1st in the nation in scoring and rebounds per game and that does not bode well for a NC State team that ranks 212th in the nation in defense.
The Wolfpack must play good D on Harrison Barnes (17.4 ppg) and they really have to keep the Tar Heels frontcourt duo of Tyler Zeller (14.4 ppg 9.3 rpg) and John Henson (14.5 ppg 10.1 rpg) from dominating the paint on offense and the glass on defense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
NC State is led by F Scott Wood (13.3 ppg) and F C.J. Leslie (12.8 ppg 6.2 rpg) and Wood has been playing well, but in his 4 games facing UNC he is only averaging 3.8 ppg on 16.7% shooting and it does not need to be said that he has to drastically improve on those career numbers for NC State to have any chance to win.
NC State leading rebounder Richard Howell (11.9 ppg 9.4 rpg) and Leslie will have to hit the glass in this game and with both at 6’8″ they will have their hands full, big time, facing the 7′ Zeller and 6’11” Henson.
Betting Trends
NC State is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog, and they have an Over record of 11-4 in their last 15 games against teams with a winning S.U. record.
UNC is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against teams with a winning S.U. record, 3-9 ATS in their last 12 home games against teams with a winning road record, and they have an Under record of 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
Jason’s Pick: The favorite has covered the spread in the last 4 games between these 2 teams, but I think that trend will end in this game. The Tar Heels will win, but since the Wolfpack are playing with confidence they will come out and play well and cover the big 13-point spread.
