The North Carolina Tar Heels (28-9) and Duke Blue Devils (32-6) clash in a Final Four showdown Saturday in New Orleans. The rivalry battle at Caesars Superdome is slated for an 8:49 tip-off (TBS). Below, we look at the North Carolina vs. Duke odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Meeting number 257 in this rivalry will be a special one.
North Carolina — the No. 8 seed from the East Region — is the fastest-paced team remaining in the tournament. The Tar Heels have averaged 77.5 points per game in going 10-1 since Feb. 19. Like their foes in this game, they are exceptional in keeping opposing shooters off the foul line. UNC is also a terrific defensive rebounding team; the Heels have out-boarded opponents in 13 straight games.
Duke advanced from the No. 2 seed in the West Region. The 10th-ranked team in the nation won the regular-season crown in the ACC. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski‘s final five in Durham is a young group but one thank ranks among the best offensive teams in NCAA-I. The Devils have shot a robust 53.8% from the field across four tournament games.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
North Carolina vs. Duke odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: North Carolina +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Duke -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Carolina +4.5 (-115) | Duke -4.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 150.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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North Carolina vs. Duke odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Duke 79, North Carolina 73
Money line
The Heels and Devils split two games in the regular season, with each side winning on the road. North Carolina may have an edge in this pace match-up (fast UNC vs. moderate DU), but Duke has superior efficiency numbers at both ends of the floor. The Devils’ ability to score in and around the paint colors this one with enough Duke leverage to make this line a fair one. But it’s not necessarily a value line: PASS.
Against the spread
UNC is 8-2 ATS across the last 10 meetings between these two sides.
However, peg North Carolina as being due for some 3-point regression after this long layoff and on this big stage. TAKE DUKE -4.5 (-107).
Over/Under
UNC and DU have split eight high-scoring games since 2018-19: The winning score in each of the last six meetings has been 87 points or more. The Over has hit in six straight games.
Both offenses have clicked in the tourney, and Duke has operated at some elevated pace numbers. BACK THE OVER 150.5 (-115).
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