North Carolina at Hawaii odds, picks and predictions

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The No. 12 North Carolina Tar Heels (2-1) and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (4-0) meet Saturday morning at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:30 a.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the North Carolina vs. Hawaii odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

The Tar Heels suffered a 92-89 loss against fellow blue blood Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse Nov. 8, although North Carolina was able to cover as an 8-point underdog as the Over (160) cashed. UNC has covered in consecutive games after throttling American 107-55 at Smith Center, with the total going high in 3 straight outings.

The Rainbow Warriors have fired out to a 4-0 start. They’ve won against San Jose State, Pacific and Weber State in overtime, as well as a win over a lower-level college Life Pacific. The Warriors are 2-1 against the spread (ATS), while the Over is 2-1 in those games, too.

– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

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North Carolina at Hawaii odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated Friday at 9:51 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): North Carolina -2000 (bet $2,000 to win $100) | Hawaii +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000)
Against the spread: North Carolina -16.5 (-105) | Hawaii +16.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 151.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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North Carolina at Hawaii picks and predictions

Prediction

North Carolina 91, Hawaii 72

Moneyline

You can’t risk 20 times your potential return to back the ranked North Carolina (-2000) side. That’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward.

On the flip side, while Hawaii (+1000) is unbeaten, it has played nobody of note. It could easily have lost to Weber State last time out, escaping in OT. Oddly enough, Weber State has a history with North Carolina. Google Harold Arceneaux and 1999.

PASS, and look to the spread instead.

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Against the spread

Back NORTH CAROLINA -16.5 (-105) lightly in this trip to the islands. The Tar Heels can roll up big-time offensive numbers, going for 89 or more points in all 3 games to date. The Tar Heels are a very good free-throw shooting team, too, as they don’t leave a lot of points on the board. However, its defense has been a bit of an issue.

However, Hawaii +16.5 (-115) allows teams to shoot 41.1% from the field and 30.2% from behind the 3-point line. That’s good news for UNC to roll up plenty of offense.

Over/Under

OVER 151.5 (-105) may be the best play on the board.

The total has cashed high in 2 of 3 games for Hawaii, as it has scored at least 73 points in each game against Division I teams, while allowing 66 or more points in all of those outings.

For UNC, it is good for 89 or more points in 3 outings. It has allowed 76 or more points in 2 of 3 contests, while the Over has hit in all 3 outings.

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