There is no better matchup configuration in the ACC than what’s about to happen later tonight when the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils lock horns. Read on for a preview of this heavyweight matchup below. Register here and wager with your pick.
Betting Preview for the North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils ACC College Basketball Game on March 9, 2018
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
When: Friday, March 9, 6:30 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (n/a) vs. Duke Blue Devils (n/a) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (24-9)
North Carolina secured another date with rival Duke by handing the Miami Hurricanes an 82-65 loss Thursday. The Tar Heels surprisingly leaned heavily on Theo Pinson, who scored 25 points. Pinson is not going to be that kind of dude every game, so the Tar Heels need the likes of Joel Berry II and Luke Maye to churn out better performances this Friday. Berry averages 17.5 points per game nut had 11 against the Canes, while May was way worse, producing just a paltry output of two points on a salty 1-for-15 shooting. Maye tops the Tar Heels with 17.6 points per game, so he is expected to turn things around – quick. When the Tar Heels beat Duke 82-78at home on Feb. 8, Maye scored 15 points, while Berry had 21. The Tar heels outrebounded the Blue Devils in both meetings this season. After all, they are No. 1 in the nation with 42.7 rebounds per contest. The Tar Heels are also armed with a strong offense, as they are putting up 82.8 points per game.
Betting on the Duke Blue Devils (26-6)
Duke waltzed its way into the semifinals of the ACC Tournament after crushing Notre Dame in the quarterfinals, 88-70. As usual, the Blue Devils’ offense clicked from start to end. They shot an astonishing 55.4 percent from the field, largely because big man Marvin Bagley III kept on getting close-range, easy baskets. The ACC’s leader in points and rebounds shrugged off everything the Fighting Irish threw at him, as he put up an absurd production of 33 points and 17 rebounds. He’s obviously ready for the NBA, but his pro dreams could wait. For now, he will train his attention on the Tar Heels, whom Duke beat on Mar. 3 at home, 74-64. Bagley had 21 points and 15 rebounds in that game, and there’s barely any reason to doubt he could do it again. Apart from Bagley, the Blue Devils will also parade top-flight offensive threats with the likes of Grayson Allen and Gary Trent Jr. The duo combined for 28 points in the win over North Carolina. Allen dropped 23 points with five three-pointers against Notre Dame. Speaking of three-pointers, Duke has made at least nine threes in each of the last two meetings with the Tar Heels. The Blue Devils are averaging 85.1 points per game.
Writer’s Prediction
Duke wins, 81-78.
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