The 2021 Cheez-It Hall of Fame Tip-Off features four top-20 teams on Saturday. In the second game of a doubleheader, Matt Painter and the No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers face Hubert Davis and the No. 18 North Carolina Tar Heels. The matchup is set to take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Both teams are 3-0 this season and facing their toughest tests to date in this nonconference showdown.
Tipoff is at 4 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. The Boilermakers are 7.5-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. Purdue odds from Caesars Sportsbook, up a point from the opening line. The over-under for total points expected is set at 152. Before locking in any Purdue vs. UNC picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,100 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has locked in on UNC vs. Purdue and released its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Purdue vs. UNC:
- North Carolina vs. Purdue spread: Purdue -7.5
- North Carolina vs. Purdue over-under: 152 points
- North Carolina vs. Purdue money line: Purdue -300, North Carolina +240
- UNC: The Tar Heels are 13-18-1 against the spread in the last 32 games
- PUR: The Boilermakers are 17-14 against the spread in the last 31 games
Why North Carolina can cover
North Carolina has been very strong on offense, ranking in the top 20 nationally in efficiency. Former five-star point guard Caleb Love is off to a strong start with 19.0 points per game, and Armando Bacot and Brady Manek are each averaging more than 17 points and seven rebounds per game. North Carolina is making 60.5 percent of 2-point shots and 38.7 percent of 3-point shots, with a top-15 mark in free-throw attempt rate and a turnover rate of only 15.7 percent this season.
Purdue's biggest defensive weakness comes in havoc creation, with the Boilermakers only forcing a turnover on 17 percent of defensive possessions. The Tar Heels are also excellent in defensive rebound rate at 79.8 percent, and North Carolina is blocking 13.7 percent of shots in the early going. North Carolina is above-average in free-throw prevention, and the Tar Heels have top-end overall talent.
Why Purdue can cover
Purdue's offense has been unbelievably effective this season, and there are top-end players on the roster. The Boilermakers are currently led by big man Zach Edey, who is averaging 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Returning standout Trevion Williams is putting up 11.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest, and potential NBA lottery pick Jaden Ivey is generating 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Purdue is No. 2 in the country in offensive efficiency, shooting more than 60 percent on 2-point attempts and more than 40 percent on 3-point attempts.
Painter's team is also dominating the offensive glass, securing 46.5 percent of misses. The Boilermakers are also a top-30 team in free-throw attempt rate, and opponents have only a 1.0 percent steal rate this season, illustrating Purdue's ball security with a top-five mark in the country. Given that North Carolina is creating a turnover on only 11.3 percent of defensive possessions with a 5.7 percent steal, Purdue should be in a favorable position to avoid treacherous situations.
How to make Purdue vs. UNC picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 143 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits 60 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins UNC vs. Purdue? And which side of the spread hits 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up nearly $2,100 on its college basketball picks the last five years, and find out.
