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College Basketball

Duke Blue Devils vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Predictions, Picks, Odds

Daniel Dobish
Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read

The Duke Blue Devils (18-3, 8-2 ACC) travel to meet the North Carolina Tar Heels (16-6, 8-3) in the first Battle of the Blues this season at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.

SCORE PREDICTION

Duke 77, North Carolina 71

BEST BETS

Duke -145 ML at BetMGM

Duke -2 (-110) at Treasure Island

Under 151 (-110) at PointsBet

DUKE BLUE DEVILS VS. UNC TAR HEELS PREDICTIONS

This will be Coach K's final trip down US 15-501 to the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, so this will be a momentous occasion. It's too bad Roy Williams isn't on the other bench, so they could retire together. Of course, Coach Roy retired last season, handing the reigns to Hubert Davis. It is the latter's first head-to-head matchup with K.

Duke won last time out at Notre Dame, winning 57-43 on Jan. 31 as a 5.5-point favorite. This will be Duke's third consecutive road game, and they're 2-0 SU/ATS in the previous two. Duke has also won four straight since an overtime setback at Florida State on Jan. 18.

North Carolina needed overtime to ease by Louisville last time out, winning 90-83 as the OVER hit. Like Duke, UNC has won and covered each of the past two outings, while winning four in a row since a 98-76 smackdown at Wake Forest on Jan. 22.

DUKE BLUE DEVILS VS. UNC TAR HEELS BETTING ODDS

  • Duke -145
  • North Carolina +130
  • Duke -2 (-110)
  • North Carolina +3 (-110)
  • Over 150.5 (-110)
  • Under 151 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

DUKE BLUE DEVILS VS. UNC TAR HEELS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: ACC
  • Date: Saturday, February 5, 2022
  • Venue: Dean E. Smith Center
  • Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • TV-Time: ESPN - 6:00 p.m. ET

DUKE BLUE DEVILS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 18-3
  • ATS: 12-7-2
  • O/U: 8-12-1

Duke has registered four consecutive wins, going 3-1 ATS during the win streak. Overall, it is 5-2 ATS in the past seven games overall, and 9-4 ATS across the past 13 games, too.

As far favorite the Blue Devils are 5-2 ATS in the past seven games, while cashing in five of the past seven on the road, too. And as a road fave, Coach K's bunch is 6-2 ATS in the past eight.

The UNDER has cashed in four straight for the Blue Devils, while hitting in seven of the past nine games overall. The UNDER is 6-2 in Duke's past eight against winnings teams, while going 4-1 in the past five on the road. The UNDER is also 4-0 in the past four games overall, and 4-0 in the past four as a favorite, too.

UNC TAR HEELS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 16-6
  • ATS: 10-12
  • O/U: 12-9-1

UNC has consecutive covers against Louisville and NC State, but it hasn't had three or more covers in a row all within the regular season since Feb. 25-March 3, 2020. The Tar Heels have cashed in six of the past seven games at home, while going just 1-4-1 ATS in the past six as an underdog.

For totals, the OVER is the rule for Carolina lately. The OVER is 4-1 in the past five games overall, while going 4-1 in the past five as an underdog and 4-0 in the past four against winning teams.

The good news for Carolina is that the home team has cashed in five of the previous six meetings in this heated rivalry.


The UNDER is 6-2 in the past eight game for Duke vs. winning teams. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - DUKE BLUE DEVILS

  • Record: 18-3
  • VI Ranking: 7
  • PS/G: 80.4 (18th)
  • PA/G: 64.7 (66th)
  • ORtg: 114.4 (9th)
  • DRtg: 92.0 (40th)

INSIDE THE STATS - UNC TAR HEELS

  • Record: 16-6
  • VI Ranking: 38
  • PS/G: 78.5 (32nd)
  • PA/G: 72.0 (258th)
  • ORtg: 110.1 (42nd)
  • DRtg: 100.9 (231st)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • DUKE: Paolo Banchero - F (17.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG)
  • DUKE: Wendell Moore Jr. - F (14.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.5 SPG)
  • UNC: Armando Bacot - F (16.5 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 1.4 APG)
  • UNC: Caleb Love - G (15.3 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.2 SPG)

DUKE BLUE DEVILS VS. UNC TAR HEELS BETTING CONCLUSION

If Carolina, or any other ACC team, for that matter, hopes to make the NCAA Tournament, it will likely take at least one win over Duke to enhance some rather marginal resumes. Carolina has lost potential resume builders against Kentucky, Purdue and Tennessee, while also losing to marginal teams like Miami, Notre Dame and Wake Forest. UNC needs a big win on its home court, not just so the students can celebrate on Franklin Street, but so the Heels can strengthen their case for an at-large bid.

Duke is easily the better team here, especially down low with Paolo Banchero. But Armando Bacot is also a force to be reckoned with, so it won't be easy for the home side. I expect a tremendous first half from UNC, and perhaps even a lead, before Duke takes over in the second half.

DUKE BLUE DEVILS VS. UNC TAR HEELS BETTING TRENDS

  • Duke is 5-2 ATS in the past seven games overall.
  • Duke is 5-2 ATS in the past seven as a favorite.
  • Duke is 5-2 ATS in the past seven road games.
  • Duke is 6-2 ATS in the past eight as a road fave.
  • UNC is 6-1 ATS in the past seven home games.
  • UNC is 1-4-1 ATS in the past six as an underdog.
  • The UNDER is 4-0 in the past four games for Duke.
  • The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five road games for Duke.
  • The UNDER is 6-2 in the past eight vs. winning teams for Duke.
  • The OVER is 4-1 in the past five games for UNC.
  • The OVER is 3-1-1 in the past five home games for UNC.
  • The OVER is 4-0 in the past four vs. winning teams for UNC.
  • The OVER is 4-1 in the past five as an underdog for UNC.
  • The home team is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings.

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Daniel Dobish

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish
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