The North Carolina Tar Heels are gearing up for another extremely difficult non-conference test, but this time, that test will be inside the Dean Dome.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, UNC (4-3) will face a National Championship contender in Alabama in a 7:15 p.m. tip-off. The Crimson Tide (6-2) already beat a pair of ranked teams in Illinois and Houston, while North Carolina failed in ranked tests against Kansas and Auburn.
The Tar Heels have a major advantage for Wednesday’s highly-anticipated battle: they’re playing at home. Cue all the jokes about UNC having a “wine and cheese crowd,” but the Dean Dome gets loud, especially with a top-notch opponent like Alabama coming to town.
North Carolina went just 1-2 in the Maui Invitational, an extremely disappointing results considered the high standards it faces this season. A victory on Wednesday night wouldn’t quash doubts about the Tar Heels, but it would go a long way toward solving them.
What UNC has in RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau, Alabama has in Mark Sears and Grant Nelson.
RJ still leads North Carolina with 18.4 points per game, despite his early-season struggles, while Cadeau’s big leap has him averaging 14.4 points per game and a Tar Heels-best 5.9 assists per game.
Sears (16) and Nelson (13.5) are Alabama’s top two scorers – and they played major roles in March’s Sweet 16 win over UNC.
If you’re heading to Chapel Hill, we’ll see you there. If you can’t make the game, make sure you familiarize yourself with all the necessary broadcasting information.
What channel is UNC vs. Alabama on Wednesday? Time, TV schedule
TV Channel: ESPN
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
UNC vs. Alabama will broadcast nationally on ESPN in the ACC-SEC Challenge. Jon Sciambi and Jay Williams will call the game from the floor at the Dean E. Smith Center.
Where to watch UNC vs. Alabama
[afflinkbutton text=”Watch UNC vs. Alabama live on ESPN+” link=”https://go.web.plus.espn.com/Vmrv2O”]
UNC vs. Alabama prediction, picks, odds
North Carolina 87, Alabama 82: North Carolina is struggling after a 1-2 showing in the Maui Invitational, but a trip back to Chapel Hill is exactly what the program needs. UNC will be playing in front of a raucous crowd, which works in the team’s advantage. Once the Tar Heels find a rotation that works for them, they’ll be set.
All College Basketball Odds via BetMGM.
SPREAD: UNC -1.5 (-115); Alabama +1.5 (-105)
MONEYLINE: UNC -140; Alabama +110
O/U TOTAL: 176.5 (UNC -110, Alabama -110)
UNC schedule
Oct. 12: Blue-White Scrimmage (Blue 62, White 53)
Oct. 15: Exhibition @ Memphis (W, 84-76)
Oct. 27: Exhibition vs. Johnson C. Smith (W, 127-63)
Nov. 4: vs. Elon (W, 90-76)
Nov. 8: at Kansas (L, 92-89)
Nov. 15: vs. American University (W, 107-55)
Nov. 22: at Hawai’i (W, 87-69)
Nov. 25: vs. Dayton (W, 92-90, Maui Invitational)
Nov. 26: vs. Auburn (L, 85-72 in Maui)
Nov. 27: vs. Michigan State (L, 94-91 in Maui)
Dec. 4: vs. Alabama
Dec. 7: vs. Georgia Tech
Dec. 14: vs. La Salle
Dec. 17: vs. Florida (Jumpman Invitational)
Dec. 21: vs. UCLA (CBS Sports Classic)
Dec. 29: vs. Campbell
Jan. 1: at Louisville
Jan. 4: at Notre Dame
Jan. 7: vs. SMU
Jan. 11: at NC State
Jan. 15: vs. California
Jan. 18: vs. Stanford
Jan. 21: at Wake Forest
Jan. 25: vs. Boston College
Jan. 28: at Pitt
Feb. 1: at Duke
Feb. 8: vs. Pitt
Feb. 10: at Clemson
Feb. 15: at Syracuse
Feb. 19: vs. NC State
Feb. 22: vs. Virginia
Feb. 24: at Florida State
March 1: vs. Miami (FL)
March 4: at Virginia Tech
March 8: vs. Duke
March 11-15: ACC Tournament (Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC)
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