Mike Krzyzewski’s final season continues with a Final Four showdown when the Duke Blue Devils square off against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Duke is coming off a 78-69 victory over Arkansas in the Elite Eight, while UNC ended Saint Peter’s Cinderella run with a dominant 69-49 victory on Sunday. This is the first time in NCAA Tournament history that these heated rivals have played each other.
Tipoff is at 8:49 p.m. ET from New Orleans. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Blue Devils as four-point favorites in the latest Duke vs. North Carolina odds, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 151. Before making any North Carolina vs. Duke picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $1,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Duke vs. UNC and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the Final Four 2022. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model’s college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for UNC vs. Duke:
- Duke vs. North Carolina spread: Blue Devils -4
- Duke vs. North Carolina over-under: 151 points
- Duke vs. North Carolina money line: Tar Heels +160, Blue Devils -190
- UNC: The Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall
- DUKE: The over is 7-1 in Blue Devils’ last eight games following a straight-up win
Why Duke can cover
Duke is loaded with a plethora of playmakers, including Paolo Banchero. The freshman forward is averaging 17.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game this season. Banchero leads a Duke offense that is averaging 80.1 points per game, which ranks eighth in the country. Banchero had a productive performance for the Blue Devils in their victory over Arkansas, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Four of Duke’s starters scored double figures in the win over the Razorbacks. A well-balanced attack will be key against a North Carolina team that ranks 229th in scoring defense (71.1). Defensively, the Blue Devils enter Saturday’s showdown averaging 5.7 blocked shots per game, the ninth-best mark in college basketball. Center Mark Williams is Duke’s best rim protector, averaging 2.9 blocks per game.
Why North Carolina can cover
Junior forward Armando Bacot is a force on the glass and has great strength to bully opposing players. Bacot knows how to create space and impacts the game in the paint. The Virginia native is averaging 16.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. Bacot ranks first in the nation in double-doubles (28) and that hasn’t slowed down during the tournament. In his last game, he recorded 20 points, 22 rebounds and two blocks.
Sophomore guard RJ Davis has great speed and burst in the backcourt. Davis has a quick first step and can blow past any defender. The New York native averages 13.4 points, four rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He is also a reliable threat on the perimeter, shooting 36 percent from three. On Mar. 19, Davis amassed 30 points, five rebounds, six assists and went 5-for-10 from beyond the arc.
How to make UNC vs. Duke picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 150 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Duke vs. North Carolina? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
