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No. 8 seed North Carolina will try to pull off its second consecutive upset when it faces No. 4 seed UCLA on Friday night. The Tar Heels recovered from blowing a 25-point lead against top-seeded Baylor, getting the job done in overtime. UCLA is hoping to make another run to the Final Four -- the Bruins are coming off a 72-56 win over Saint Mary's. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ankle) is expected to play for UCLA after missing the last game. 

Tipoff is set for 9:39 p.m. ET Friday on CBS at the Wells Fargo Center. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Bruins as 2.5-point favorites in the latest UCLA vs. North Carolina odds. The total for points scored is listed at 142. Before making any North Carolina vs. UCLA picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer 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 over $1,300 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 set its sights on UNC vs. UCLA and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NCAA Tournament 2022. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model's college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for UCLA vs. UNC:

  • North Carolina vs. UCLA spread: UCLA -2.5
  • North Carolina vs. UCLA over-under: 142 points
  • North Carolina vs. UCLA money line: UCLA -145, UNC +125
  • UNC: The Tar Heels are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games
  • UCLA: The Bruins are 8-4 against the spread in their last 12 games

Why North Carolina can cover

North Carolina is keyed by its offense, but the Tar Heels do have defensive advantages in this matchup. The Tar Heels are No. 2 in the country in defensive rebound rate this season, securing 78.6 percent of missed shots by opponents. North Carolina also ranks in the top 10 of the country in free throw rate allowed, effectively keeping the opposition away from the charity stripe. The Tar Heels are above-average in block rate (9.9 percent) and 2-point accuracy allowed (48.0 percent), with UCLA shooting just 49.5 percent on 2-point attempts and producing a below-average assist rate. 

From there, North Carolina's offense can take over with four double-digit scorers and a top-20 national ranking in adjusted offensive efficiency. North Carolina can bludgeon opponents with an offensive rebound rate north of 30 percent, and the Tar Heels are shooting 77.0 percent from the free-throw line and an impressive 36.5 percent from 3-point distance this season. The Tar Heels also win on the margins with an above-average assist rate and a low turnover rate of 16.7 percent.

Why UCLA can cover

UCLA knows what to do in this moment, as it brings back most of its Final Four team from last season. The Bruins are facing an inexperienced North Carolina team that is No. 220 nationally in that category. North Carolina's lack of experience showed when it blew a 25-point lead against Baylor in the second round before recovering in overtime.

The Tar Heels have one of the worst defensive turnover rates in the country and are facing a UCLA offense that is fifth best in that metric, so the Bruins should be able to maximize their possessions. UCLA has won 10 of its last 11 games in the month of March and has covered the spread in eight of its last 12 games overall. The Bruins are one of the best defensive teams in the country, which will be the deciding factor on Friday night.

How to make UCLA vs. North Carolina picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 145 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.

So who wins North Carolina vs. UCLA? And which side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.