Michigan Wolverines vs. UNC Tar Heels Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Dec. 1, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Michigan Wolverines (4-2) take on the North Carolina Tar Heels (4-2) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.

Score Prediction

Michigan 73, North Carolina 69

Best Bets

Michigan -125 ML

Michigan -1.5 (-110)

Under 148.5 (-110)

Michigan Wolverines vs. UNC Tar Heels Predictions

After a so-so time in Las Vegas, including a lopsided 80-62 loss against Arizona as 3.5-point favorites, the Wolverines returned home last Wednesday and slept their way through a 65-54 win against Tarleton State. They came nowhere near covering a 21.5-point number. Michigan has really struggled scoring the basketball lately, going for 65, 62, 74 and 65 across the past four outings. Three scorers for Michigan were in double digits against Tarleton were in double digits, including 14 points and 10 rebounds for Caleb Houstan. Hunter Dickinson managed nine points with 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, just missing a double-digit. The Wolverines turned it over 21 times while posting just 14 assists.

North Carolina slapped the brakes on a two-game mini-skid, which included neutral-site losses against Purdue and Tennessee, topping UNC Asheville last time out. The Tar Heels won 72-53, but missed out on the cover as a 23.5-point favorite. That's six games up, and six non-covers for the Tar Heels so far. UNC was able to edge Asheville despite the fact they turned it over 16 times to just seven for the Bulldogs. UNC's defense was outstanding against UNCA, holding them to 26% shooting (18-of-68) and 19% (7-of-37) from behind the arc. But Michigan will be a whole different animal.

Michigan Wolverines vs. UNC Tar Heels Betting Odds

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Michigan Wolverines vs. UNC Tar Heels Betting Resources

• Matchup: Big 10 vs. ACC
• Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021
• Venue: Dean E. Smith Center
• Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• TV-Time: ESPN - 9:15 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Michigan Wolverines Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 4-2
• ATS: 2-4
• O/U: 2-4

The Wolverines didn't come close to covering against Tarleton, and their last cover came in a neutral-site battle against UNLV on Nov. 20. As a single-digit favorite, Michigan is 0-2 SU/ATS, losing 80-62 to Arizona, while also falling 67-65 at home against Seton Hall. The UNDER is also 2-0 in those two games as a single-digit favorite, while the UNDER is 4-1 in the past five games overall for the Wolverines.

Michigan heads into this one with a 5-1 ATS mark across the past six road games, while going 9-2 ATS in the past 11 as a road favorite. They're also 5-1 ATS in the past six on the road against a team with a winning home record. They're just 2-5 ATS in the past seven as a favorite, and 2-5 ATS in the past seven games overall.

UNC Tar Heels Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 4-2
• ATS: 0-6
• O/U: 4-2

The Tar Heels have failed to cover six times in six outings this season, and they enter this one as a home underdog. In their two games as an underdog this season they're also 0-2 SU/ATS, with the OVER connecting in each outing.

UNC has failed to cover in each of its past six games in Chapel Hill, while going 0-5-1 ATS in the past six against teams with a winning overall record. They're also 2-7-1 ATS in the past 10 as an underdog. As far as the total is concerned, it's all OVER all the time for the Heels. The OVER is 4-1 in the past five games overall, while going 20-8-1 in the past 29 games at home. The OVER is also 5-1 in the past six following a straight-up win, and 10-2 ATS in the past 12 after a non-cover.

These teams last met on Nov. 28, 2019, with the Wolverines posting a 73-64 win in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are 2-0 SU/ATS in the past two meetings dating back to Nov. 29, 2017, when these teams last met in Chapel Hill. The Heels took that meeting 86-71 as nine-point favorites at the Dean Dome.

North Carolina is 0-7-1 ATS in the past eight games overall dating back to last season. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Michigan Wolverines

• Record: 5-1
• VI Ranking: 40
• PS/G: 71.4 (201st)
• PA/G: 52.7 (2nd)
• ORtg: 108.9 (88th)
• DRtg: 80.4 (8th)

Inside the Stats - UNC Tar Heels

• Record: 5-2
• VI Ranking: 48
• PS/G: 71.1 (204th)
• PA/G: 67.3 (153rd)
• ORtg: 101 (207th)
• DRtg: 95.5 (163rd)

Key Players to Watch

• MICH: Eli Brooks - G (15.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 42.9 3P%)
• MICH: Hunter Dickinson - C (14.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.3 BPG)
• UNC: Armando Bacot - F (15.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 1.0 APG)
• UNC: Brady Manek - F (14.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 41.9 3P%)

Michigan Wolverines vs. UNC Tar Heels Betting Conclusion

Neither of these teams have lived up to preseason expectations. Michigan has straight-up losses to Seton Hall, which could be excused, but they were spanked by Arizona in Las Vegas in a neutral-floor battle. Now they play in a true road game in a difficult place to play. However, if the Wolverines were going to have a successful trip to Chapel Hill, this is it. North Carolina has been able to pick up wins against cupcakes, but Hubert Davis' Tar Heels are just not measuring up against the top-notch competition. He'll have his coaching skills tested again in this one in a head-to-head battle with Juwan Howard.

The fact this game is at home in the Dean Dome gives UNC a chance, but this will end like so many of their other games against top-tier teams - with a narrow loss. Now, hopefully Michigan doesn't forget how many timeouts there are, calling one when they have none. Yeah, we weren't going to have a Michigan-UNC column with at least one reference to Chris Webber. Come on, now!

Michigan Wolverines vs. UNC Tar Heels Betting Trends

• Michigan is 5-1 ATS in the past six road games.
• Michigan is 2-5 ATS in the past seven games overall.
• Michigan is 2-5 ATS in the past seven as a favorite.
• North Carolina is 0-6 ATS in the past six home games.
• North Carolina is 0-7-1 ATS in the past eight games overall.
• North Carolina is 2-7-1 ATS in the past 10 as an underdog.
• The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five games for Michigan.
• The OVER is 4-1 in the past five games for North Carolina.

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