In Wednesday college hoops action, the College of Charleston Cougars and North Carolina Tar Heels tip off their season at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., at 6 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the College of Charleston-North Carolina college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
College of Charleston at North Carolina: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:36 a.m. ET.
- Money line: College of Charleston +1400 (bet $100 to win $1,400) | North Carolina -5000 (bet $5,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: College of Charleston +17 (-110) | North Carolina -17 (-110)
- Over/Under: 143.5 (O: -106 | U: -115)
College of Charleston at North Carolina: Three things to know
- North Carolina opens the season ranked No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll. Last season was a disaster by UNC standards as the Tar Heels finished 14-19 SU and 6-14 in the ACC, tied in the basement with Pittsburgh and Wake Forest.
- Charleston posted a 17-14 SU mark with a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) 11-7 record last season, finishing tied for fourth place. The Cougars went 6-7 SU in 13 true road contests while going 14-14-1 ATS with a slight edge to the Over at 15-13-1.
- Despite a relatively reasonable geographic proximity, CoC and UNC haven’t met on the hardwood since Nov. 28, 2010. Carolina picked up a 74-69 victory at the Smith Center as the Cougars easily covered a 14-point number that day as the Under (155.5) cashed.
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College of Charleston at North Carolina: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
North Carolina 77, College of Charleston 64
Money line (ML)
North Carolina (-5000) is too expensive, as you have to risk $50 for every $1 won. That’s just bad gambling over the long haul, as eventually you’ll run into an upset which will wash away your profits quickly. AVOID.
Against the spread (ATS)
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON +17 (-110) is worth playing rather lightly, as I am just not feeling North Carolina -17 (-110). The did lose last year’s leading scorer and all-everything Cole Anthony to the NBA.
The Heels have retooled with a wealth of talent in freshmen Walker Kessler and Caleb Love, joining potential ACC Player of the Year Garrison Brooks, Armando Bacot and Leaky Black. But it might take a while for this new power five to jell. UNC won’t lose, but covering 17 is a tall order against a decent CoC side. The Cougars added some new blood, too, and Payton Willis should step right in and add some scoring punch.
Over/Under (O/U)
The lean is to the UNDER 143.5 (-115), but play it very lightly. The Tar Heels, on paper, should be much better on offense, but it remains to be seen if they’ll fire out of the chute or if chemistry will be an early issue.
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