Notre Dame vs. UNC Predictions, Odds

• January 2, 2020
• By Thom Cunningham
• VegasInsider.com

The North Carolina Tar Heels look to get back on track, hosting an impromptu conference game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Tip is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (ET) from the Dean E. Smith Center on the ACC Network.

BETTING RESOURCES

• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Conference: ACC
• Venue: Dean E. Smith Center
• Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Date: Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021
• Time: 4:00 p.m.
• TV: ACCN
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | William Hill | Best Sportsbooks

WHERE TO BET NOTRE DAME-UNC

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Notre Dame-UNC Betting Odds

• Spread: UNC -9
• Money-Line: TBD
• Total: 146.5

Odds Subject to Change

UNC opens as a large -9-point favorite against the Fighting Irish, covering in three of nine games this season. Notre Dame has failed to cover six of its last eight games, so the ATS will be tricky to say the least.

The point total is set at 146.5, which UNC has gone UNDER in seven of its last nine games. Notre Dame is much more even in the O/U market, going 4-4 on the year.

Betting Analysis – Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 3-5
• ATS: 2-6
• SU - Home: 2-4
• SU - Away: 1-1
• O/U: 4-4

It seems to be another long year for Mike Brey and the Fighting Irish. Youth was the school's excuse for lackluster seasons lately, but three juniors now lead the Notre Dame charge.

Prentiss Hubb is one of the top scorers for Notre Dame, averaging 14.9 points per game and leads the team in assists with 4.5 per game. Dane Goodwin and Nate Laszewski also average 14 points or more per game, while the Fighting Irish have three other players average eight or more points per game.

Notre Dame has the seventh-best free throw percentage (81%) in the nation and the 47th-most made three-pointers per game (9.4). So what's the issue? Defense. Notre Dame has an awful 113.2 defensive rating which ranks 321st out of 336 schools.

They give up more points per game than they score, conceding at least 80 in two of their last three road games. The one game they didn't concede 80 was to a reeling Kentucky club. Notre Dame can compete, and even cover the large spread. Winning, however, is a tall task unless the defense cleans up its act.