Michigan State North Carolina odds picks prediction spread over/under betting line

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

The Michigan State Spartans (20-14) and North Carolina Tar Heels (28-7) are lined up for a West Region 2nd-round affair in Charlotte. Tip-off at Spectrum Center is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook ‘s lines around the Michigan State vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

Michigan State, the No. 9 seed in the West, advanced through the 1st round after a 69-51 triumph as a 1.5-point favorite over 8th-seeded Mississippi State Thursday. MSU went 10-for-23 (43.5%) on 3-pointers with G Tyson Walker sinking 3 of 6 and finishing with a game-high 19 points. It was the Spartans’ 3rd consecutive cover against the spread.

North Carolina, ranked No. 5 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, is the top seed in the West Region. The Tar Heels backed that up accordingly with a 90-62 rout of No. 16 seed Wagner Thursday, covering as 25.5-point favorites. UNC is 9-1 over its last 10 games, and has scored 90-plus in 3 of those 10.

Michigan State vs. North Carolina odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:42 p.m. ET.

Moneyline: Michigan State +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | North Carolina -185 (bet $185 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Michigan State +3.5 (-105) | North Carolina -3.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 140.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Michigan State vs. North Carolina picks and predictions

Prediction

North Carolina 72, Michigan State 70

Moneyline

MSU (+150) is the lean here but has better relative value getting the points. Should this tag reach +165 or so, the Spartans are a value play. PASS otherwise.

Against the spread

The Spartans are 8-4 ATS in non-conference play. UNC is 2-4 ATS when playing on 1-or-fewer days of rest. The Tar Heels are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against a Big Ten opponent.

North Carolina likes to play with pace and is efficient at both ends. The Tar Heels have averaged a robust 81.7 points per game this season, and they excel in taking care of the basketball while playing up-tempo ball.

MSU is content to keep possessions in check and is 8-4 ATS when facing teams averaging 77-plus PPG. Still, the Spartans may need to have another good game from beyond the arc to make this a 50-50 game at the end. But in that regard, they are battling a UNC 5 that has trailed off in perimeter defense of late.

TAKE MICHIGAN STATE +3.5 (-105).

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Over/Under

The Over is 4-1 in Carolina’s last 5 games. It is 8-2 in 10 UNC neutral-site games.

Expect some lofty free-throw totals for the Tar Heels and at least the fair possibility of 9-or-more triples for the Spartans. Peg the public as reading into MSU’s low Thursday score a bit too much.

BET OVER 140.5 (-110) — the lean here isn’t much, so consider a partial-unit play.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin /
College Sports Wire: Men’s hoops / Women’s hoops / High School

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

Tag: Michigan State North Carolina odds picks prediction spread over/under betting line

March Madness: Michigan State vs. North Carolina odds, picks and predictions