North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Clemson Tigers Preview
Where: Littejohn Coliseum — Clemson, South Carolina
When: Tuesday, January 3, 7:00 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (-3) vs. Clemson Tigers (+3) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN2
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Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (-3)
No. 14 UNC opened ACC play with a surprising loss at Georgia Tech on Saturday, 75-63. Well, the loss was inevitable thanks to a dismal shooting display from the Tar Heels, who collectively shot 33.3 percent from the field, including 21-of-26 shooting from the three-point line. They also turned the ball over 20 times, a season-high.
The Tar Heels now hope to avoid their second 0-2 conference start in four years when they prepare for a primetime showdown with Clemson. North Carolina won last season’s meeting with the Tigers, 80-69, and that was a game where UNC shot above 50 percent from the floor and had five players scoring in double figures.
One of them was Joel Berry II, who, along with Justin Jackson, will look to carry the Tar Heels to another win in this matchup. Both lead the team in scoring this season with 17.4 and 13.9 points, respectively. The latter is averaging 22.5 points in the last four games, but was limited to just 12 points on 6-of-17 shooting in the loss to Clemson.
North Carolina, which is priced at +1,000 to win it all this season, is 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS in its last 10 games overall.
Betting on the Clemson Tigers (+3)
Clemson comes into this game on a nine-game winning streak, with the latest win coming against Wake Forest during Saturday’s ACC opener, 73-68. The Tigers were vigorously tested in that game, needing a late fourth-quarter run to overcome a 10-point deficit.
The team’s leading scorer this season, Jaron Blossomgame (17.3 PPG), shot 50 percent from the floor, finishing with 14 points and three boards. That output was outshined by Marcquise Reed, though. He poured in a season-best 21 points together with four steals off the bench.
Reed’s production is going to be crucial against a steady UNC defense (68.3 PPG) that’ll definitely have most of its focus on stopping Blossomgame. And speaking of defense, Clemson will also have its hands full in holding off a high-scoring offense (87.9 PPG) that features four players averaging 12 or more points a game on the season. The Tigers are allowing 64.4 points per contest, which is currently among the fewest in the country.
Writer’s Prediction
Clemson pulls off the major upset, 76-73.
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