The last time the North Carolina Tar Heels (+40000 to win the national title) and the Duke Blue Devils (+1000) squared off, they produced an instant classic. There’s no reason not to expect that the two rivals will put up another memorable game this Saturday in Durham. The Tar Heels are on a roll and can use a win against Duke to propel their momentum into the ACC Tournament, while Duke, regardless of the setting, will savor a win at home over North Carolina.
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Betting Preview for the North Carolina Tar Heels vs Duke Blue Devils NCAA College Basketball Game on March 7 2020
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham
When: Saturday, March 7 , 2020, 6:00 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (Odds) vs. Duke Blue Devils (Odds) – view all 2020 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (13-7 Overall / 6-13 Conference)
The Tar Heels have a nice streak going, heading into another clash with archnemesis Duke. They have won each of their last three games, though, none were against teams who are likely headed to the national tournament. The latest was a 93-83 win in Chapel Hill against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Nevertheless, the Tar Heels will take those wins, which should have given North Carolina’s ego a big shot in the arm. Cole Anthony, who’s going to play in the NBA in the near future, blew up for 28 points against Wake Forest, while Garrison Brooks put up 25 points — both players coming off the bench. The pair of Anthony and Brooks has been the biggest driving force of the Tar Heels’ recent surge, averaging 51 points over North Carolina’s current unbeaten streak. In the Tar Heels’ 98-96 overtime loss to Duke in February, Anthony scored 24 points, while Brooks had 18. The Tar Heels also won the rebounding battle, 51-42. After all, the Tar Heels are the second-best team in the nation with 41.9 boards per game. However, they need to keep that kind of tenacity on the glass from start to finish against Duke, which capitalized on North Carolina’s defensive negligence in the most crucial moments of the game.
The Tar Heels are 3-0 against the spread in the last three times they hosted Duke in Chapel Hill.
Betting on the Duke Blue Devils (24-6 Overall / 14-5 Conference)
The Blue Devils were not going to allow the NC State Wildcats to embarrass them again, as they took down Kevin Keatts’ team at home last Monday, 88-69. Duke, which lost to NC State in Raleigh back in February, came into the rematch against Wolfpack following back-to-back losses to Wake Forest and the Virginia Cavaliers. The Blue Devils outworked NC State on the glass, as they grabbed 47 rebounds to just 27 by NC State. As mentioned earlier, rebounding was a big factor in the first meeting between Duke and North Carolina this season. Although North Carolina had more rebounds, Duke got the most important ones, including the offensive rebound Wendell Moore Jr. got in the dying seconds of the game against North Carolina before putting the ball into the basket for the game-winner. Tre Jones led Duke in the win over the Tar Heels, scoring 28 points, while Cassius Stanley had 22. Vernon Carey Jr. generated 18 points and had six boards, but fouled out. Carey needs to keep his fouls in check and have North Carolina deal with him for as long as possible. He is a tremendous asset for the Blue Devils, who are third in the nation with 82.3 points per game and ninth in terms of defensive efficiency, allowing just 90.5 points per 100 possessions by opponents.
The over is 3-1 in the Blue Devils’ last four games.
Writer’s Prediction
Duke wins, 77-69.
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