Free NCAA Tournament Pick: Peacocks vs. Tar Heels CBB Odds
Looking for Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Peacocks taking on the Tar Heels on Sunday, March 27th, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NCAA Tournament matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NCAA basketball predictions like this Peacocks Tar Heels matchup.
2022 Men’s NCAA Tournament Handicapping
(22-11) #15 Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs. #8 North Carolina Tar Heels (27-9)
Date: Sunday, March 27th, 2022
Time: 5:05 PM EDT
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
CBB Moneyline Odds: SPU +260 | NC -350
CBB Betting ATS Odds: SPU +8 | NC -8 (Bet Now!)
CBB Betting Total: 136.5
This is it. In another improbable NCAA Tournament wrangle, unlikely heroes St. Peter’s and North Carolina vie on Sunday for final four honors. Congrats if you had either, especially the Peacocks, advancing this far. Stories like theirs are why we love March madness.
After defying oddsmakers, and higher-seeded foes all month, all eyes are firmly on UNC and St. Peter’s as the programs conclude elite 8 action this weekend.
With prelim info stated, it’s now worth noting the Tar Heels enter with decisive -8.5 odds over the Cinderella Peacocks. And following comfortable wins over Marquette, Baylor and UCLA, UNC passes the eye exam for the team’s latest line.
For all Saint Peter’s recent defiance, they’ve already made history by seeing the elite 8. Odds are, midnight will slam the Peacocks Sunday evening. Let’s examine why.
Saint Peter’s Peacocks
Following a solid NCAA capping season, including some exact final score predictions, The Line has gotten burnt by underdogs this week. Although, with each pick being its own entity, the overwhelming math stating St. Peter’s turns into a pumpkin today cannot be ignored.
The fact is, no #15 seed has come anywhere near the final four. I don’t view UNC as a world beater, but I’m also not high enough on life today to give SPU another fortuitous masterstroke over conventional wisdom.
As harsh reality looms, however, let us briefly recap how CBB’s current pulse made history.
A humble MAAC program nested along the Jersey Shore, St. Peter’s NCAA tournament appearances are rare. Many expected Kentucky to flatten the Peacocks in round of 68 action and send St. Pete’s home, just content to have represented their small conference on the biggest stage.
Defensively stout St. Peter’s had other plans. While deploying former Seton Hall PG Shaheen Holloway’s blueprint to a magical T, the Peacocks stuffed Kentucky’s perimeter attack, and downed the Cats 85-79 in OT.
Those that dubbed UK an overrated fat cat from a fool’s gold conference weren’t shocked by the outcome.
Yet, St. Peter’s would definitely be exposed next vs. mid-major powerhouse Murray State, right? Wrong again. Behind more stifling D, the Peacocks proudly displayed their colors with a 70-60 win to send the stunned Racers sputtering home.
After two huge W’s, the stage was set for history. In the annals of college basketball, no #15 seed has advanced past the sweet 16. Holloway’s men laughed in the Devil’s face by silencing massive favorite Purdue 67-64 on March 25 to become the lowest seed to ever grace an elite 8 court.
I am awed by these accomplishments. I really do appreciate them, but UNC’s run is statistically more impressive.
Let’s see why.
North Carolina Tar Heels
During an up and down regular campaign, the Tar Heels routed Duke while winning six of their final seven ACC outings to nab an at-large tourney bid. Although their story isn’t as splashy as the Peacocks’s, North Carolina has caught fire these past few weeks all the same.
Nine-seed Marquette fell first to Hubert Davis & Co., 95-63. Given the occasion, that performance was perhaps North Carolina’s finest all year. That offensive masterclass led to the Tar Heels knocking off no. 1 seed, and defending national champion Baylor 93-86 in overtime.
After claiming a major scalp, UNC handed 4-seed UCLA a victory lap 73-66 sweet 16 loss to rectify its regular season defensive miscues. In fact, two of the Heels’ three recent tourney wins feature uncharacteristically solid defense.
Looking at UNC and Saint Peter’s road to today’s neeting makes one say, ‘Only in March.’
March Madness Betting Trends:
- Tar Heels are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Tar Heels are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- Tar Heels are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Tar Heels are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Tar Heels are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 4-1 in Peacocks last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.
Free Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels NCAA Tournament Prediction:
As stated, underdogs far less notable than St. Peter’s, have plagued me lately. Still, I just have too much trouble backing the Peacocks here. Listen, UNC has been a two-way buzzsaw this entire tournament. And defense is the only statistical area the Peacocks currently hold over UNC -however slim.
With that related, I can’t totally discount any group that knocks off Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue in succession. I won’t advise St. Peter’s ATS as my first play, (look at my final score), so I’ll take the Over here as a compromise between my grounded sense of logic and understanding UNC has its own flaws which could easily re-emerge Sunday. Good luck!
4* Free CBB March Madness Betting Pick: Over 136.5
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