Two of the worst bets in the ACC - as well as the country - will square off in the Dean Dome on Saturday night when the Virginia Cavaliers and North Carolina Tar Heels mercifully close out their regular season rivalry against one another. It’s been nothing short of a nightmare campaign for Roy Williams this season, and it doesn’t look to be getting better anytime soon. The Wahoos have owned UNC over the last 10 meetings winning and covering seven times. Tony Bennett’s troops will be out to sweep the season rivalry and rattle off a sixth straight win and cover at online sportsbooks in the process. Having split its 14 played home games to date, the odds of that occurring are likely greater than it not. A week removed from dropping a gut-wrenching overtime game to the Dookies, UNC returns to the scene of the crime. Maybe they can hit a free throw or two or come up with a rebound when it matters most this time around!
This ACC showdown will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET from the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN. So make sure to fill out your March Madness Bracket today!
CBB Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
Close win after close win after close win. That’s been the Cavaliers “MO” this season. Due to it being favored in seven of its last 10 played games and splitting each outright, it comes as no surprise to see the Cavaliers owners of an ugly 3-7 ATS record during that stretch. Just to be clear, Virginia’s been horrendous at covering the spread all season evidenced by its bankroll killing 7-16 ATS tally off Tuesday night’s win and non-cover at home against Notre Dame. Regardless, the defense continued to do its job like it has so many times the last few seasons with it allowing 47 points in regulation and another bucket in overtime to secure the hard on the eyes 50-49 triumph. The win moved UVA to 4-1 SU in its last five, but also an ugly 1-4 ATS. Virginia’s failed to cover its last two on the road at Louisville (L) and Wake Forest (W).
Off that gut-wrenching overtime loss to the Duke Blue Devils, there was absolutely no way UNC showed up in Winston-Salem on Tuesday night. That turned out to be exactly the case after the Demon Deacons ran the Tar Heels out of the gym right from the opening tip taking a 44-26 lead with it into the break before going on to win 74-57 as short 2-point underdogs. Cole Anthony tied for the team lead with 15-points, but remained frigid from deep where he missed all six of his 3-point attempts. The loss was the team’s fourth straight and dropped them to an ACC worst 3-10 in league play with seven games remaining. This will be their third to last game played in front of the hometown faithful where they’ve gone a bankroll destroying 3-9 ATS.
Key Matchup
Much better North Carolina teams have struggled mightily to break down the Cavaliers pack line defense. Over the course of their current five-game losing streak to UVA, the Tar Heels have managed to score an average of just 52.6 points per game. Three of the defeats saw them fail to surpass the 50-point threshold! As bad and inefficient the offense has been this season, it seriously might score a program low versus the Cavaliers on Saturday night since the advent of the shot clock. I keed, I keed! While the offense leaves much to be desired, the Cavaliers defense still brings it every passing game evidenced by it ranked No. 1 in points allowed and FG percentage against as well as being ranked No. 3 in efficiency at KenPom.com. The Wahoos already held UNC to 47 points at home back on December 8, so I’d make it a point to seek out the Tar Heels team total and hit the under once again on Saturday night.
Prediction
I was all over the Tar Heels plus the points and on the $-Line last Saturday night against the Dookies. Heck, my predicted final score would’ve nearly come through had North Carolina prevented Tre Jones from hitting the shot that sent the game to overtime. While they still ultimately went on to cover the closing college basketball odds, cashing that 3-1 ticket sure would’ve been nice! Regardless, I saw all I needed to see from the Tar Heels this season. It’s simply not a good team and I have no faith in it figuring out how to solve the riddle that’s been the Virginia Cavaliers for the last three seasons. Don’t overthink it people. Lay the chalk. Bet the under and also look to take a position on the Tar Heels team total under as well.
College Basketball Pick: Virginia 69, North Carolina 58
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
