North Carolina vs Kentucky Odds, Pick
| North Carolina Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 165.5 -110o / -110u | -125 |
| Kentucky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 165.5 -110o / -110u | +105 |
The four-team CBS Sports Classic event will take place on Saturday. Let's look at the marquee game of the event, the No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats against the No. 9 North Carolina Tar Heels. Kentucky dominated the last meeting two years ago in this same event. Who will prevail this time around?
Here's how to bet North Carolina vs. Kentucky, with odds and a pick below.
North Carolina Tar Heels
On the Tar Heels' side, their non-conference schedule hasn't featured many soft spots. The Heels faced high-major opponents in the past four games, including a win over Tennessee and a loss to UConn.
After last year's disaster, North Carolina looks back in the title discussion.
Star senior guard RJ Davis has scored 23+ points in five straight games. The Heels will need another strong performance from its experienced show runner against the youthful Wildcats. When Davis gets to his spots and shows confidence, he's one of the top guards nationally.
In this matchup, North Carolina's edge is paint scoring. It's imperative to involve preseason All-American Armando Bacot from the opening tip, as he's struggled at times this season. When Bacot is rolling, he's one of the best bigs in the sport, and he'll give Aaron Bradshaw his welcome-to-college moment.
Bacot has scored 13 or fewer points in five of the past six games, which gets glossed over with North Carolina winning.
UNC needs more from Bacot to stay in the top 10 and win this vital game.
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Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats' four guards — Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham and D.J. Wagner — carry the offense, as all four average over 12 points per contest.
Possibly the most explosive of the bunch is Dillingham, who catches fire from deep regularly.
Sheppard is vital to Kentucky's attack as a reliable ball-mover and lethal perimeter shooter. The freshman guard has improved his NBA draft stock, averaging 13 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists a night.
John Calipari finally stopped playing two bigs out of necessity, but the head coach wants to play multiple bigs together. Playing 7-foot freshman Bradshaw and Tre Mitchell together makes sense against UNC's stout front line.
The potential lineup change will limit the minutes of a regular, as Adou Thiero figures to play fewer minutes, since somebody will lose playing time.
The difference in lineup construction has led to Kentucky shooting the ball at a 41% clip from deep. Kentucky's offense looks perfectly comfortable running and gunning. That's different in Lexington, but the roster is better equipped to play smaller.
Monitor how Coach Cal structures the lineup in this one.
North Carolina vs. Kentucky
Betting Pick & Prediction
These two teams play similar styles — both rank top-50 in tempo, boast a turnover percentage below 14% and have defenses outside the top 45 in Defensive Efficiency.
The one glaring difference? Kentucky's shooting is elite compared to UNC's measly 35% marker. Sure, 35% isn't terrible, but it's not touching Kentucky's 41% number, so that's the lean here.
Although Kentucky's roster is fairly young, I trust a majority of the young guys to say consistent. Some could get distracted by the moment of facing North Carolina, but Kentucky's freshman trio plays well beyond its years.
Expect a barrage of points in this one, but that's not my pick. Go Cats.
Pick: Kentucky ML (-104)
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