NCAA Odds: Hard-charging Tar Heels at Duke
The North Carolina Tar Heels’ recent ascent brings added intrigue to Wednesday night’s game at the Duke Blue Devils. The winner of college hoops’ best rivalry will be in first place in the ACC.
The Tar Heels (17-5 straight-up, 10-9 against the spread) are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games, including 7-1 in the ACC, but it wasn’t until their last five games that people started taking notice.
Coach Roy Williams’ team has a five-game winning streak, both SU and ATS. The offense has been humming at 85.6 PPG in that span, versus 79.1 PPG on the season. That’s helped the ‘over’ go 5-0.
The current winning streak coincides with freshman Kendall Marshall becoming the starter at point guard. Former starter Larry Drew II (4.4 PPG) actually played better off the bench, but abruptly left the program last Friday.
That didn’t bother UNC, which got an 89-69 win as 6 ½-point home favorites over Florida State on Sunday. Marshall set a team freshman record with 16 assists and the Tar Heels shot 55.7 percent against a defense that ranks second in the country in field goal percentage (36.4 percent).
The Drew situation clearly hasn’t hurt team chemistry, in fact it’s the opposite. Fellow freshman Harrison Barnes (13.3 PPG) has shed his early-season disappointment tag by averaging 22.7 PPG the last three games. Tyler Zeller (14.1 PPG. 6.9 RPG) and John Henson (11.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG) are long big men who are still improving.
UNC is back in the Coaches Poll this week at No. 21. It broke into the AP Poll last week (currently ranked No. 20).
No. 5 Duke (21-2 SU, 12-10 ATS) got embarrassed on the national stage 10 days ago at St. John’s, a 93-78 loss as eight-point favorites. That game wasn’t even as close as the score indicates with a 46-25 halftime deficit.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski didn’t win four national titles and build the nation’s best program by being a poor motivator. He had his troops fired up the next two games with wins at Maryland (80-62) and home versus NC State (76-52). Those were ‘covers’ as 4 ½ and 19-point favorites respectively.
The games also went ‘under’ as the defense clamped down after the non-effort against St. John’s. Team ‘D’ has taken a step back from last year at 64.6 PPG (ranked 85th nationally).
Sophomore center Mason Plumlee (7.1 PPG) has picked up his scoring the last two games (28 combined points). A third scoring option is needed to help guard Nolan Smith (21 PPG) and forward Kyle Singler (18 PPG).
Freshman point guard Kyrie Irving (17.4 PPG) was that guy, but he’s missed the last 15 games with a toe injury and is likely out for the year. Duke is still waiting for either Andre Dawkins (10 PPG) or Seth Curry (8.2 PPG) to become consistent offensively.
The Blue Devils are 13-0 SU at home this year (6-6 ATS) and have won 32 straight overall there, last losing February 2009 against North Carolina. However, they’re just 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games even after the NC State ‘cover.’
UNC likes to play a fast-paced offensive game, but Duke ranks fourth in the country in scoring (84.7 PPG) and isn’t afraid to get into a shootout, especially at home. Marshall will be defended by a savvy senior in Smith, who switched back to point after the Irving injury.
Barnes is going to need another big game, but this is the biggest spotlight ever for the nation’s No. 1 recruit.
Duke went 2-0 SU and ATS versus North Carolina last year, including 82-50 at home as 15-point favorites. UNC was 4-0 SU and ATS in the prior four years at Duke.
The ‘under’ is 3-0 in the last three meetings overall.
There are no significant injuries to report besides Irving. ESPN is thrilled to have this 6 p.m. (PT) tip-off from Cameron Indoor Stadium right after No. 11 Georgetown at No. 12 Syracuse.
The North Carolina Tar Heels’ recent ascent brings added intrigue to Wednesday night’s game at the Duke Blue Devils. The winner of college hoops’ best rivalry will be in first place in the ACC.
The Tar Heels (17-5 straight-up, 10-9 against the spread) are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games, including 7-1 in the ACC, but it wasn’t until their last five games that people started taking notice.
Coach Roy Williams’ team has a five-game winning streak, both SU and ATS. The offense has been humming at 85.6 PPG in that span, versus 79.1 PPG on the season. That’s helped the ‘over’ go 5-0.
The current winning streak coincides with freshman Kendall Marshall becoming the starter at point guard. Former starter Larry Drew II (4.4 PPG) actually played better off the bench, but abruptly left the program last Friday.
That didn’t bother UNC, which got an 89-69 win as 6 ½-point home favorites over Florida State on Sunday. Marshall set a team freshman record with 16 assists and the Tar Heels shot 55.7 percent against a defense that ranks second in the country in field goal percentage (36.4 percent).
The Drew situation clearly hasn’t hurt team chemistry, in fact it’s the opposite. Fellow freshman Harrison Barnes (13.3 PPG) has shed his early-season disappointment tag by averaging 22.7 PPG the last three games. Tyler Zeller (14.1 PPG. 6.9 RPG) and John Henson (11.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG) are long big men who are still improving.
UNC is back in the Coaches Poll this week at No. 21. It broke into the AP Poll last week (currently ranked No. 20).
No. 5 Duke (21-2 SU, 12-10 ATS) got embarrassed on the national stage 10 days ago at St. John’s, a 93-78 loss as eight-point favorites. That game wasn’t even as close as the score indicates with a 46-25 halftime deficit.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski didn’t win four national titles and build the nation’s best program by being a poor motivator. He had his troops fired up the next two games with wins at Maryland (80-62) and home versus NC State (76-52). Those were ‘covers’ as 4 ½ and 19-point favorites respectively.
The games also went ‘under’ as the defense clamped down after the non-effort against St. John’s. Team ‘D’ has taken a step back from last year at 64.6 PPG (ranked 85th nationally).
Sophomore center Mason Plumlee (7.1 PPG) has picked up his scoring the last two games (28 combined points). A third scoring option is needed to help guard Nolan Smith (21 PPG) and forward Kyle Singler (18 PPG).
Freshman point guard Kyrie Irving (17.4 PPG) was that guy, but he’s missed the last 15 games with a toe injury and is likely out for the year. Duke is still waiting for either Andre Dawkins (10 PPG) or Seth Curry (8.2 PPG) to become consistent offensively.
The Blue Devils are 13-0 SU at home this year (6-6 ATS) and have won 32 straight overall there, last losing February 2009 against North Carolina. However, they’re just 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games even after the NC State ‘cover.’
UNC likes to play a fast-paced offensive game, but Duke ranks fourth in the country in scoring (84.7 PPG) and isn’t afraid to get into a shootout, especially at home. Marshall will be defended by a savvy senior in Smith, who switched back to point after the Irving injury.
Barnes is going to need another big game, but this is the biggest spotlight ever for the nation’s No. 1 recruit.
Duke went 2-0 SU and ATS versus North Carolina last year, including 82-50 at home as 15-point favorites. UNC was 4-0 SU and ATS in the prior four years at Duke.
The ‘under’ is 3-0 in the last three meetings overall.
There are no significant injuries to report besides Irving. ESPN is thrilled to have this 6 p.m. (PT) tip-off from Cameron Indoor Stadium right after No. 11 Georgetown at No. 12 Syracuse.
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