The Pittsburgh Panthers are set to face a tough challenge this coming Saturday, when they host the No. 15 North Carolina Tar Heels (+1,400 to win the national title). The Panthers are in the midst of a rebound season following an 8-24 SU finish a year ago, but they could prove they’re more than just a pretender if they could take down the Tar Heels. As for North Carolina, it will have to be focused in this game, as a loss against an unranked Panthers will certainly cause them to slide several notches down the AP Top 25 rankings – if not fall out of it completely.
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Betting Preview for the North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Pittsburgh Panthers College Basketball Game on January 25, 2019
Where: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh
When: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 12:00 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (odds) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (9-3 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
The Tar Heels have a test waiting for them at home against the Harvard Crimson on Wednesday before facing Pittsburgh on the road, though, North Carolina is presumably likely to take care of business against Tommy Amaker’s squad. The Tar Heels have the talent to overpower Pittsburgh even on the road. Speaking of which, the Tar Heels are 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS in their last seven games away from Chapel Hill. Prior to their meeting with Harvard, the Tar Heels defeated the Davidson Wildcats at home, 82-60, on Dec. 29. North Carolina’s offense and rebounding are going to be a problem for the Panthers. The Tar Heels are third in the nation with 91.4 points per game and 31st with a 48.5 percent shooting from the field. Their on-ball defense remains a suspect, but they partly make up for it by cleaning the glass whenever they get the chance.
North Carolina, which is second in the ACC with 44.5 rebounds per contest, is 2-1-1 ATS in its last four road games.
Betting on the Pittsburgh Panthers (10-3 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
The Panthers are definitely benefiting from a soft schedule, which is why they are currently sporting a solid 10-3 SU overall record. Say what you want to say about their perceived lowly strength of schedule, but at least it’s helping the Panthers boost their confidence. The last time they were on the floor, they clobbered the Colgate Raiders at home, 68-54, on Dec. 29. Pittsburgh is being led by a freshman sensation in Xavier Johnson, who owns the team’s best averages of 16.3 points and 5.0 assists per contest. Johnson and the Panthers are not on the level of North Carolina in terms of individual talent, but they could expect some smooth executions on offense in part because of North Carolina’s porous defense. The Tar Heels are only 214th in the nation with 74.4 points allowed per outing with their opponents having a collective 48.3 effective field goal percentage.
Pittsburgh is 3-0 ATS in its last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction
North Carolina wins, 89-71.
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