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An ACC showdown features the No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels (24-6) and the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils (24-6) colliding on Saturday. On Monday, the Blue Devils topped NC State 79-64. The Tar Heels, meanwhile, blew out Notre Dame 84-51 on Tuesday. UNC beat Duke 93-84 in Chapel Hill on Feb. 3, covering as a 4.5-point favorite in that matchup. A win for UNC clinches the outright ACC regular-season title for the Tar Heels, while a Duke victory would give them a share of the title. 

Tipoff from Cameron Indoor Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The Blue Devils are 5-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. Duke odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 150. Before making any Duke vs. North Carolina picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the proven SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 season on a 141-100 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 26-17 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on UNC vs. Duke and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Duke vs. UNC:

  • North Carolina vs. Duke spread: Blue Devils -5
  • North Carolina vs. Duke over/under: 150 points
  • North Carolina vs. Duke money line: Blue Devils -232, Tar Heels +187
  • UNC: Have hit the Under in 10 of last 13 away games
  • DUKE: 18-11 ATS this season 
  • North Carolina vs. Duke picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why North Carolina can cover

Senior guard RJ Davis has been the most consistent force for this Tar Heels all season long. Davis has serious quickness with a knack for scoring at all three levels on the court. The New York native is 10th in the nation in scoring (21.5) with 3.5 assists per game. In his last game, Davis had 22 points, four rebounds and six assists.

Senior forward Armando Bacot is a powerful presence down low. Bacot owns a soft touch in the paint and does an exceptional job clearing space down low. He leads the team in rebounds (10.2) with 14 points per game. In the Feb. 3 win over Duke, Bacot had 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. See which team to pick here. 

Why Duke can cover 

Freshman Jared McCain is a floor-spacing guard who has the ability to score off the dribble or as a spot-up shooter. The California native averages 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and shoots 40% from downtown. In his last game, McCain dropped 16 points and five boards. He's scored 15-plus in two of his last four games.

Sophomore forward Mark Mitchell gives Duke a bruiser in the frontcourt. Mitchell owns a quick first step and has the frame to be effective around the rim. The Kansas native logs 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. On Feb. 28 against Louisville, Mitchell had 17 points and seven boards. See which team to pick here. 

How to make Duke vs. UNC picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 149 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins UNC vs. Duke, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $1,700 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.