The Michigan Wolverines are out for revenge on Wednesday night as they host the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines didn’t exactly get the warmest or receptions last year UNC hosted them as the Tar Heels took command of the game. Michigan looks to return the favor this time around.
Michigan doesn’t have the offense to run away with a game like UNC, but their defense in the early going has been as good as advertised. That leaves us with an offensive-minded Tar Heels team against the stout defense for the Wolverines.
These are elite teams that go about their business in different ways. Can Michigan get its revenge from last year’s game or will UNC have a repeat—just at a different venue? Either way, this is one of the better college hoops matchups of the week and one worth watching and wagering. Look for a well-played game on both side of the floor and plenty of live betting opportunities available at BookMaker.eu.
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North Carolina Tar Heels at Michigan Wolverines
Date and Time: Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 9 p.m. ET
Location: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
College Basketball Odds: Check Back Later
Tar Heels vs. Wolverines TV Coverage: ESPN
This could be one of the more talented Tar Heels teams we’ve seen in the last few years. That’s a scary statement given the success of the program under Roy Williams.
Still, while UNC lost some key players from last year’s team, they’ve had one of their best recruiting classes ever with Coby White and Nassir Little already paying massive dividends.
White is second on the team in scoring with 15.7 PPG and has helped solidify the backcourt along with Kenny Williams who is an excellent ball-handler. Meanwhile, in the front court, UNC’s big recruit is Little who is anything but. He’s got 12.9 PPG and 5.3 RPG and continues to get better each game.
Offensively, the Tar Heels have been amazing in the early going. They’ve got 96.6 PPG through their first seven and are shooting north of 50-percent form the floor.
Inside, the team’s deep with Little alongside Luke Maye and Garrison Brooks. On the perimeter, Cameron Johnson joins White as an excellent outside shot. The Tar Heels boast a ton of depth. Their biggest problem to this point has been defense. They’ve scored a ton of points, but they’ve allowed a bunch, too, with the opposition scoring 72.9 PPG.
The team’s a solid 6-1 to start the year, but their loss came against Texas. They scored 89 in that game, but still lost, allowing the Longhorns to score 92. Texas had 11 fewer shots from the floor, but took many nearly uncontested and sank 52.5-percent to get the win.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the floor, the Wolverines sport an elite defense, carrying that over from last year’s squad. They have some quality offensive pieces, but on the young season, it’s been more about the defense for the Wolverines.
Michigan ranks first on the young season in PPG allowed at just 48.3 and that’s been against more than just the likes of Holy Cross and Norfolk State, though they are in the numbers as well.
Perhaps the most telling about Michigan’s defense is the 46 scored by Villanova in a 27-point win by the Wolverines earlier this month.
On the offensive side, the Wolverines have scored at least 83 points in two of their last three games. The offense seems to be picking up.
In their most recent game, Michigan scored 83 against Chattanooga. Freshman Ignas Brazdeikis scored 20 for the second straight game, nearly replicating the stats he produced against Providence.
Brazdeikis is a big of an underrated freshman, but he’s been great this far with 15.7 PPG and 5.8 RPG while shooting over 50-percent from the floor and holding his own on the perimeter.
Inside, Isaiah Livers has stepped up as well while Jon Teske continues to be a looming presence under the basket. Offensively, he doesn’t provide much, but defensively he’s already got 12 blocks and is the team leader in rebounding.
In the backcourt, Charles Matthews has 14.5 PPG, the only other Michigan player aside from Brazdeikis averaging in the double digits. On the downside, however, he’s only scored 13 combined the last two games and he’s had issues from time-to-time shooting. Fellow sophomore Jordan Poole has been a key offensive contributor in the two games this year the team’s scored north of 80. He scored 14 against Chatanooga and 22 against George Washington.
Live Betting
The pace of this game will be a real determining factor on where this one ultimately ends up. The Wolverines were able to keep the score down early in their bout against UNC last November and the game was close until later in the first half. At that point, the Tar Heels’ offense took over and starting scoring fast. From there, it was over.
In this one, watch the pace of play. If the Wolverines are able to slow down the Tar Heels and make this more of a defensive game, UNC is not equipped for such a battle. They’ve got top talent youngsters and strong shooters, but struggle to keep the opponents’ score down. Instead, they merely outscore them. That works against most teams, but Michigan and UNC are both top-ranked teams for a reason.
If Michigan can provide enough key blocks and steals to slow the UNC offense, don’t be afraid of the home town team. However, don’t under-estimate either team in this one. While last year’s game wasn’t that close, this should be. You should bet the spread at BookMaker.eu accordingly.
Key Player
Cameron Johnson and Coby White may be the team leaders in scoring for UNC, but Luke Maye is the key for the Tar Heels in this game. Likewise, shutting him down—or at least slowing him down—is the key for Michigan.
Maye shot 11-for-16 from the floor with 27 points along with six rebounds in the Tar Heels’ dominating win over Michigan last year. The Wolverines had no answer for Maye in that contest.
The forward is just as comfortable on the perimeter as he is underneath and that posed problems.
If the Wolverines can slow Maye, they’ll be in excellent position in this game and the forward has been good to start the year. He’s reliable for 11 points and eight rebounds a game and is averaging more, but he’s yet to top 16 points in any contest, a far cry from his 27 against Michigan last year.
Tar Heels vs. Wolverines Live Betting
Look for Michigan’s defense to come through at home and allow the Wolverines to inch by the Tar Heels in what ultimately figures to be a good, close game.
These two top ranked teams may represent direct opposites in style of play, but it’ll be up to the Wolverines’ offense to keep pace with UNC and the Tar Heels’ defense to get enough key blocks and force enough turnovers to stop a Michigan team fully capable of putting points on the board despite a typically slower pace of play.
In this one, count on Michigan to score closer to the totals put up in two of their last three games as the offense starts to come together. Meanwhile, look for the Tar Heels to be held well below the 89-points Texas limited them to last week, and they lost that game.
Michigan should inch out the win at home, getting back at UNC for a though loss last year, but this game will be much closer than the 15-point game these two teams played in last year.
Check out all of the live betting at BookMaker.eu for Wednesday’s college basketball.
NCAA Basketball Score Prediction: Michigan 77, UNC 73
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