Syracuse will certainly be a sizable underdog in this matchup so will need to play nearly flawlessly to have a shot at the win. North Carolina isn’t as dominant as it has been in some past years but has plenty of talent and should be considered a March Madness threat once again.
This war on the floor will go down Monday, January 16, 2017, at 7 p.m. ET at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
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Odds at BookMaker.eu
Syracuse is 10-7 straight up and 5-7 against the spread. The Orange have played three true road games and failed to cover in any of them, so rebounding well in a hostile environment is something they must do this time out. Syracuse has a record of 1-2 against the spread as an underdog.
North Carolina is 14-3 straight up and 10-7 against the spread. The Tar Heels have played eight games at home and have covered in six of them. North Carolina is 10-6 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
Player to Watch
Andrew White III – The Syracuse senior guard has become an instant asset for the team this year, averaging 16 points and 4.8 rebounds a game in his first season with the Orange. White averaging 16.6 points and 5.8 rebounds for Nebraska last season as a junior before transferring.
White began his college career at Kansas and is hoping to end it on a high note this season with the Orange. This matchup against North Carolina presents a nice opportunity for him to prove his worth on a big stage.
White has been playing well lately, averaging 20 points per game in the month of January. He put up a season-high 26 points against North Florida on December 3rd and will be needed to have a strong game for Syracuse to have a shot at the upset.
Key Stat
45.9. The Tar Heels are the No. 1 rebounding team in the nation with 45.9 a game. Big man Kennedy Meeks lead the effort, averaging 9.8 rebounds a game.
Meeks gets some help from Tony Bradley and Isaiah Hicks, who combine for another 11 rebounds a game. Bradley, a 6-foot-10 freshman, has been a huge asset for the Tar Heels off the bench this year.
North Carolina’s starting lineup, which includes three players who 6-foot-8 or taller, is also key. The team’s ability to get second and third shots has no doubt contributed to its high scoring this season as well.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
The ACC is stacked with perennially strong programs, including these two, Duke and Louisville. Beyond them, Florida State and Notre Dame are also playing very well, each undefeated in the early stages.
The Tar Heels have the ability to win the conference if they can turn it on, but there will be plenty of competition. That’s why a game like this is so important against a team which has yet to find its groove.
Syracuse has come on strong at the end of seasons in the past and done well in March Madness, but is in danger of missing it completely this year. The Orange would love to pull this upset but it will be too much to ask.
North Carolina is stronger with talent and has the home court advantage, which will be a combination Syracuse will be unable to overcome.
College Basketball Odds: North Carolina 83, Syracuse 76
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