Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels Predictions, Picks, Odds and NCAA Basketball Betting Preview – February 8, 2018

It’s always an event whenever the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels meet even if the two schools have not been playing well of late. Read on for a preview of this intense rivalry matchup that will surely light up the fireworks in Chapel Hill this Saturday. Register to bet and wager with your pick.

Betting Preview for the Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels College Basketball Game on February 8, 2018

Where:  Dean E. Smith Center

When: Thursday, February 8, 8:00PM EST

Line: Duke Blue Devils (n/a) vs North Carolina Tar Heels (n/a) –view all NCAA Basketball lines

TV Broadcast: ESPN

Betting on the Duke Blue Devils (19-4)

It’s not a good sign for Duke if it lost to a team like the St. John’s Red Storm. Chris Mullin’s boys kicked the Blue Devils’ behind last Saturday, 81-77, in a game that saw Duke commit 18 turnovers. The Red Storm  capitalized on those errors and scored numerous times off those against their opponents’ middling defense that ranks 160th in the nation with 72.4 points allowed per game. The Blue Devils can’t afford to be that careless on offense versus North Carolina and its much deadlier offense. That said, the Tar Heels don’t always bring the heat on defense unlike the Red Storm, so the Blue Devils could expect a high-scoring game this Saturday, which suits their style a whole lot more. Marvin Bagley spearheads the Duke’s lineup, as the freshman forward is averaging a double-double of 21.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

Duke is 7-2-1 ATS in its last 10 road games against the Tar Heels.

Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (17-7)

When it comes to scoring, the Tar Heels are one of those teams who could hang with the Blue Devils. Duke is second in the nation in scoring with 89.6 points per game, but the Tar Heels are not too shabby either with 82.8 per contest. The Tar Heels showed off their immense firepower in their most recent outing, drubbing the Pittsburgh Panther at home, 96-65. Luke Maye led the defending champions with 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting from the field to go with eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Rebounding is going to be a big key for each team this Saturday, though the Tar Heels have the slight advantage in that department. They are pacing the nation with 43.4 rebounds per game Maye leads the Tar Heels with 18.3 points per game, while Joel Berry is second with 17.3. North Carolina drained 13 threes in the win over Pittsburgh, and it could continue shooting that way opposite Duke’s faulty defense that lets opponents shoot 23.2 three-point attempts per game.

The Tar Heels are 4-1 ATS in their lat five home games.

Writer’s Prediction:

North Carolina takes down Duke at home, 84-81.

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