The North Carolina Tar Heels have shaken off an early-season loss recently by winning two straight, and will be favored to keep it going in a home matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Tar Heels have one of the most talented rosters in college basketball and are rightfully ranked among the elite squads.
They will aim to flex their muscle in a showdown against a Tennessee team which has played two ranked teams close this season but has yet to pull out a big upset. The Volunteers are a formidable foe but North Carolina will certainly be the team to beat in this one.
At 5 p.m. ET, tune into ESPN for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Sunday, December 11, 2016, at the Dean E. Smith Center.
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North Carolina is 9-1 straight up on the season including a perfect record in four home games. The Tar Heels are 6-4 against the spread and have done a nice job covering at home despite often giving plenty of points.
Tennessee is 4-3 straight up and has covered in five of its seven matchups. The Volunteers have done a nice job on the road, covering in all three contests. This might be another situation where Tennessee doesn’t win the game but does enough to cover the spread.
Lookahead Situation
It’s only natural for North Carolina to understand the gargantuan matchup it has waiting around the bend. The Tar Heels will be playing their final game before a showdown against No. 6 Kentucky in a matchup of two of the most storied college basketball programs in history.
The battle with the Wildcats will feature several future NBA players and could give an early idea of which team has the leg up shall they meet against deep into the NCAA Tournament.
With that in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise for the Tar Heels to play a sloppy game against Tennessee. It’s never intended to look past a team, but with the Volunteers’ mediocre record and a huge showdown coming up afterward, North Carolina may be looking ahead even before this one is played.
Player to Watch
Justin Jackson - The North Carolina junior forward has averaged in double figures in all three years at the school but has taken his game to another level this year.
Jackson is averaging 16.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists on the year. He had 27 points last time out and was one of the few Tar Heels to play well in the team’s lone loss this season, a 76-67 defeat at the hands of Indiana.
Tennessee has done a pretty nice job defensively this year but has not often faced a player with the amount of talent as Jackson and will have a tough time bottling him up.
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The Volunteers have tested themselves this season, losing by 12 points to No. 16 Wisconsin and by only four to No. 13 Oregon earlier this year. Tennessee has won three in a row as the competition has gotten easier, but it ramps up again in this one.
North Carolina is 1-1 against ranked opponents but has a much high ceiling than the Volunteers, and also get this game at home. The Tar Heels are too talented to let this one stay too close.
Tennessee will try hard to spring an unlikely upset but it’s not going to happen. Expect Jackson to have a big game and for the Tar Heels to pull away for the victory.
College Basketball Odds: North Carolina 89, Tennessee 75
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