For the first time in 16 years, the Auburn Tigers (+2800 to win the tournament) are going dancing in the Sweet 16 round. Charles Barkley must be very giddy. If they are to get further than that, though, they will have to overcome the North Carolina Tar Heels (+650), who looked incredible in their last game. Will Michael Jordan’s tears flow at the end of this one or will UNC head into the Elite Eight?
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Betting Preview for the Auburn Tigers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels College Basketball Game on March 29, 2019
Where: Sprint Center, Kansas City
When: Friday, March 29, 2019, 6:00 PM ET
Line: Auburn Tigers (+5) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (-5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Auburn Tigers (28-9 Overall / 11-7 Conference)
The Tigers destroyed perennial title contender and preseason No. 1 team Kansas Jayhawks in the second round, 89-75. Again, Auburn banked on its dynamic backcourt tandem of Bryce Brown and Jared Harris to rattle their opponents. Brown exploded for 25 points against Kansas on the strength of a 9-for-13 shooting from the field and 7-for-11 performance from behind the arc. Harris, on the other hand, churned out 18 points and dished out six assists. The two combined for 29 points in Auburn’s first-round victory over the New Mexico State Aggies. They will have to sustain their scorching offense along with Auburn’s tenacious defense to take down North Carolina. The Tar Heels like to push the ball and play fast downcourt, and they could get tripped up by Auburn’s defense that is showing no mercy to opposing ball-handlers. The Tigers, who were fourth in the nation in the regular season with 17.5 turnovers forced per game, have coaxed 32 turnovers from opposing teams over their last two games.
Auburn is 6-2 against the spread (ATS) in its last eight games, and is 21-14-1 ATS overall on the season.
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (29-6 Overall / 16-2 Conference)
The Tar Heels exposed the Washington Huskies in the second round, defeating the Pac-12 regular season champs with ease, 81-59. The Huskies were simply no match in this game. North Carolina used its tremendous advantage inside, especially on the glass, as the Tar Heels doubled up Washington’s rebounding total, 48-24. Luke Maye was a one-man demolition crew against the Huskies, pumping out 20 points and hauling down 14 rebounds in 33 minutes. Nassir Little, meanwhile, came off the bench and fired 20 points in just 21 minutes. Although the Tar Heels are very much aware of Auburn’s defensive capabilities, they are also confident in their ability to get points from numerous sources. Maye, Little, Cameron Johnson, and Coby White are all capable of taking over a game by means of creating plays for their teammates or getting buckets on their own. In the regular season, the Tar Heels averaged 86.0 points per game and topped all teams with 44.3 boards per contest.
The under is 3-0 in North Carolina’s last three games. The Tar Heels are 22-10-3 ATS overall this season, covering 68.8% of the time, which makes them the seven best team in NCAA Division 1 when it comes to the cover.
Writer’s Prediction
Auburn wins, 81-79.
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