The North Carolina Tar Heels (7-4) and No. 21 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-2) tangle in Saturday’s CBS Sports Classic in New York. The opening tip from Madison Square Garden will be at 3 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the North Carolina vs. Ohio State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
North Carolina has logged back-to-back wins (and covers) after losing 4 in a row from Nov. 25-Dec. 4. The Tar Heels shot just 23.7% from 3-point range during their skid, but they clocked 15 triples in a 100-67 win over The Citadel Tuesday.
Ohio State has been dialed in in defending the perimeter. The Buckeyes have allowed more than 5 treys just twice in 9 games and have held foes to a 27.9% mark on 3s (28th).
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North Carolina vs. Ohio State odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: North Carolina -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Ohio State +122 (bet $100 to win $122)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Carolina -2.5 (-115) | Ohio State +2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 150.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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North Carolina vs. Ohio State picks and predictions
Prediction
North Carolina 76, Ohio State 70
Moneyline
Peg UNC as the more battle-tested between these two veteran lineups so far. The Tar Heels figure to have an edge in the turnover and free-throw exchanges and are worth a look perhaps up to -135. But PASS on the current tag.
Against the spread
The Buckeyes are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against teams playing .600 ball or better. The favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 UNC-OSU meetings.
A big North Carolina frontcourt is the difference here. The UNC offense flows through the paint with talented big men like F Armando Bacot and F Pete Nance able to get quality shots and/or force contact and trips to the free-throw line.
In earlier neutral-floor missteps against Iowa State (70-65 loss Nov. 25) and Alabama (104-101 four-overtime loss Nov. 27), the Tar Heels led late. Look for enough edge in this contest to warrant a partial-unit play on NORTH CAROLINA -2.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Under is 4-1 in the Tar Heels’ last 5 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.
Two veteran groups in a mid-pace neutral-site game makes for a slight lean on the Under. But HOLD OFF on any figure south of 151.5.
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