Teams expected to compete for another national championship this season battle during the 2023 Jimmy V Classic when the ninth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels meet the fifth-ranked and defending champion UConn Huskies on Tuesday. The Tar Heels (7-1), who finished seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 11-9 and 20-13 overall in 2022-23, are looking to win their fourth consecutive game. The Huskies (7-1), who suffered their first loss of the season with a 69-65 setback on Friday, tied for fourth in the Big East at 13-7 and were 31-8 overall last season. North Carolina has won five of the six meetings all-time.
The game will tip off at 9 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York. UNC is averaging 86.3 points per game, while UConn averages 85.8. The Huskies are 6-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. UConn odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 151. Before making any UConn vs. UNC picks, you'll want to see the predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 5 of the 2023-24 season on a 98-61 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 10-2 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on UConn vs. UNC. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines for the UNC vs. UConn:
- North Carolina vs. UConn spread: UConn -6
- North Carolina vs. UConn over/under: 151 points
- North Carolina vs. UConn money line: North Carolina +203, UConn -251
- UNC: The Tar Heels have hit the game total under in 8 of their last 9 away games (+6.90 units)
- UCONN: The Huskies have won 15 of their last 17 games (+12.10 units on ML)
- North Carolina vs. UConn picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why UConn can cover
Sophomore center Donovan Clingan has reached double-digit scoring in five of eight games, including a 29-point performance in an 84-64 win over New Hampshire on Nov. 27. He had a solid effort in Friday's loss at Kansas, scoring eight points, grabbing seven rebounds, making three blocks and dishing out two assists. In eight starts, he is averaging 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, two blocks and one assist. He is connecting on 64.3% of his shots from the floor.
Also averaging double-figure scoring is sophomore forward Alex Karaban. He is coming off a 10-point and six-rebound effort at Kansas. He scored 20 points and grabbed six boards in an 81-71 win over No. 15 Texas on Nov. 20. For the year, he has started all eight games and is averaging 14 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 30.4 minutes per game. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why North Carolina can cover
Senior guard RJ Davis has been on a tear of late. He is coming off back-to-back 27-point performances against 10th-ranked Tennessee on Wednesday and on Saturday against Florida State. He scored 30 points in an 87-72 win over No. 20 Arkansas on Nov. 24. For the season, Davis is averaging 20.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He is also connecting on 94.6% of his free throws.
Also leading the way is fifth-year senior Armando Bacot. In eight starts, he has registered four double-doubles, including in each of the last two games. In the win over Florida State, he scored 13 points, while grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking four shots. His best game was a 22-point and 20-block effort in a 90-68 win over Lehigh on Nov. 12. In 28.4 minutes per game, he is averaging 16.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and one assist. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make UNC vs. UConn picks
The model has simulated Connecticut vs. North Carolina 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread hits over 60% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins UConn vs. UNC, and which side of the spread hits over 60% 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 98-61 roll on its top-ranked college basketball picks, and find out.
