In a highly anticipated ACC showdown, the No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels (24-6) will face off against the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils (24-6) on Saturday. The Blue Devils are coming off a solid 79-64 win against NC State on Monday, while the Tar Heels dominated Notre Dame with an 84-51 victory on Tuesday. UNC previously defeated Duke 93-84 in Chapel Hill on Feb. 3, covering as a 4.5-point favorite. A win for UNC in this game would secure them the outright ACC regular-season title, whereas a Duke victory would result in a share of the title.
The Tar Heels are led by senior guard RJ Davis, who is currently ranked 10th in the nation in scoring with an average of 21.5 points per game. Davis has showcased his scoring ability at all three levels on the court and is also contributing 3.5 assists per game. Meanwhile, senior forward Armando Bacot provides a strong presence down low for UNC, averaging 14 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. In the previous matchup against Duke, Bacot recorded an impressive stat line of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
On the other side, Duke boasts freshman guard Jared McCain and sophomore forward Mark Mitchell as key players to watch. McCain is a versatile guard with the ability to score off the dribble and as a spot-up shooter, averaging 13.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Mitchell, a bruiser in the frontcourt, contributes 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. In their recent game against Louisville, Mitchell put up 17 points and grabbed seven boards.
The latest odds have the Blue Devils as 5-point favorites with an over/under set at 150 points. The model at SportsLine is leaning towards the under on the total points, projecting 149 combined points, and suggests that one side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations. It is important to consider all factors before making a decision on your Duke vs. North Carolina picks.
This ACC clash between North Carolina and Duke is poised to be a thrilling matchup between two powerhouse teams vying for the top spot in the conference. With star players on both sides showcasing their skills, fans can expect high-intensity action and competitive basketball. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting game at Cameron Indoor Stadium with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
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