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NCAAB Handicapping: North Carolina vs. Nevada (Dec. 31)

The North Carolina Tar Heels and the Nevada Wolf Pack will both be gunning for a victory on Wednesday when they meet at Lawlor Events Center. We preview and pick this NCAA hoops matchup…

NCAA Basketball Picks North Carolina vs Nevada

Western Carolina is the only team in the country that is averaging more than North Carolina’s 95.8 points per game. Thus far the Heels have outscored their opponents by an average margin of almost 27 points a game, and it’s been done for the most part with the team not at full strength.  

BetUS NCAA Basketball Betting Odds: NORTH CAROLINA -18.5

Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* NC has lost its last four games ATS
* NC has won 27 of its last 28 games SU
* NC has played six of its last nine games OVER the total
* NEV has won four of its last five games SU
* NEV has won 18 of its last 22 home games SU
* NEV has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total

Marcus Ginyard has only just comeback from a foot injury, having missed every game except the December 28 win (97-75) over Rutgers. Seven-foot freshman Tyler Zeller suffered a wrist injury and only played the first two games. Tyler Hansbrough has only played eight games, though he’s tallied 20 points or more in six of them.

North Carolina has had no close calls along the way. Roy Williams’ team has blown away Kentucky by 19 points, Oregon by 29, Notre Dame by 15, Michigan State by 35, Oral Roberts by 16. There are some teams on that list who are going to be in the NCAA tournament.

UNC had the points guard (Ty Lawson) with an assist-turnover ratio of 5.5-to-1; the three-point threat of Danny Green (47% accuracy); the bruising inside play of freshman Ed Davis (8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game) and no less than four different starters who have shot at least 56% from the field.

Nevada is only shooting 42%, and doesn’t really possess anything in the way of consistent three-point threat. In fact, they are shooting just 27.6% from beyond the arc. Dario Hunt averages 1.5 blocks, but he doesn’t get enough playing time because he lacks offensive capabilities. After the 65-51 loss to San Diego in the season’s second game, no one has really blown their doors off (losses to UNLV by 7, Portland by 2, Cal by 9, Pacific by 8). Of course, there isn’t any program like North Carolina on that list.

An ACC game with Boston College is four days on the horizon for the Tar Heels, but there’s no reason for a look-ahead, as this game will be nationally-televised. How good can North Carolina be? The scary part is, we may not even know yet. Sure, we’ll lay the points with the Heels, the 18.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

Our PLAY: NORTH CAROLINA -18.5 ***