Any game featuring the North Carolina Tar Heels (+1,300 to win the national title) and the Duke Blue Devils (+175) does not need to get hyped up to attract attention. Arguably the most bitter and famous rivalry in all of North American sports, the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils will add another chapter to their deep-rooted enmity this weekend in a showdown in Durham.
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Betting Preview for the North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils College Basketball Game on February 20, 2019
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham
When: Wednesday, February 20 2019, 9:00 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (odds) vs. Duke Blue Devils (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (20-5 Overall / 10-2 Conference)
It didn’t take long for the Tar Heels to get back into the win column following a 69-61 defeat at the hands of the No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers last week, as they took down the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem last Saturday, 95-57. The win over the Demon Deacons was something that was almost a dead giveaway for the Tar Heels given the quality of their opponent. The Blue Devils, however, are a completely different opponent from hell. North Carolina’s offense presents a big challenge for the Blue Devils. The Tar Heels are second in the nation with 87.5 points per game. They spread the floor well because of their solid outside shooting, with North Carolina making 9.1 3-pointers per game on 38.6 percent accuracy, 48th and 20th in the nation nationally. In addition to those, North Carolina boasts of its ability to dictate the game’s tempo because of its rebounding. The Tar Heels are No. 1 in Division I basketball with 43.0 rebounds per contest.
North Carolina is 3-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in games after a loss this season.
Betting on the Duke Blue Devils (23-2 Overall / 11-1 Conference)
Duke inched a game away from a double-digit winning streak after securing its ninth-straight win last Saturday over the NC State Wolfpack at home, 94-78. The Blue Devils were able to overcome an extremely salty shooting from long range to down Kevin Keatts’ boys. They shot just 3-for-16 from deep for an ugly 18.8 percent success rate, but still finished with a 53.0 percent shooting from the field overall, thanks in large part to the dominance of RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson. Barrett finished with 23 points while Williamson had 32. Both players did plenty of damage inside the arc, with Williamson making 12 of his 15 two-point attempts. Duke can win games on a variety of ways. Even when the team is not shooting well, the Blue Devils always have their defense to rely on to make runs and games within reach, the same way they did in their come-from-behind road win over the No. 16 Louisville Cardinals last week. Duke is third in the nation with 86.4 points per game and fourth in KenPom in defensive efficiency.
Duke is 5-1 straight up (SU) and 3-2 against the spread (ATS) in its last two meetings with North Carolina. At home so far this season, the Blue Devils are 15-1 SU and 9-7 ATS.
Writer’s Prediction
Duke wins, 90–79.
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