The Pittsburgh Panthers will look to continue their recent success against the eighth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels when they meet in Atlantic Coast Conference action on Tuesday. The Panthers (9-4, 0-2 ACC), who have won the last three meetings with North Carolina, are 5-1 in the last six games against them. The Tar Heels (9-3, 1-0 ACC), who have won five of their last seven games, are 6-3 all-time in Pittsburgh and 15-8 overall against the Panthers. UNC is playing its first true road game of the season, while Pitt is 7-2 on its home court.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET from the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh. UNC is averaging 86.3 points per game, while Pittsburgh averages 80.5. The Tar Heels are 4.5-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 157.5. Before making any Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina picks, check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 9 of the 2023-24 season on a 101-66 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $2,000 for $100 players. It is also off to a fast 11-4 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on UNC vs. Pitt. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines and trends for Pitt vs. UNC:
- North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh spread: North Carolina -4.5
- North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh over/under: 157.5 points
- North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh money line: North Carolina -193, Pittsburgh +160
- UNC: The Tar Heels have hit the game total under in 9 of their last 12 away games (+5.70 units)
- PITT: The Panthers have have won 22 of their last 34 games (+8.60 units on ML)
- North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why North Carolina can cover
Junior forward Harrison Ingram has been strong from long range for the Tar Heels, and is connecting on 47.5% of his field goals, including 45.1% from 3-point range. For the year, he is averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals in 31.9 minutes of action. He has registered two double-doubles on the season, including 13 points and 10 rebounds in an 87-72 win over Arkansas on Nov. 24. He also scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds in a 91-69 victory over Northern Iowa on Nov. 22.
Senior guard Cormac Ryan brings a lot of experience, but is in his first year with the program after spending the last three seasons at Notre Dame. He played his freshman year at Stanford. In 11 games, including 10 starts, Ryan is averaging 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.6 minutes of play. He has reached double-figure scoring in six games, including a season-high 20 in an 87-83 loss to Kentucky on Dec. 16. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why Pittsburgh can cover
The Panthers have three players averaging 10 points or more, led by senior forward Blake Hinson, who is in his second year with the program. Hinson averages 19.5 points, five rebounds and one assist in 31.2 minutes of action. He is hitting 46.1% of his field goals, including a blistering 43.8% from 3-point range. He has reached double-figure scoring in 12 of 13 games, including a season-high 29 points in an 80-63 win at West Virginia on Dec. 6.
Freshman guard Carlton Carrington has had the hot hand of late, and is coming off a 17-point, seven-rebound and five-assist performance in the loss at Syracuse. He is averaging 14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Carrington has registered one double-double on the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 100-52 win over North Carolina A&T on Nov. 6. He scored a season-high 19 points and dished out seven assists in an 86-74 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 13. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Pittsburgh vs. UNC picks
The model has simulated this matchup 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in over 80% of simulations. You can see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins UNC vs. Pitt, and which side of the spread hits over 80% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 101-66 roll on its top-ranked college basketball picks, and find out.
