Offense meets defense when the No. 15 North Carolina Tar Heels (14-4, 3-2 ACC) welcome the No. 20 Clemson Tigers (15-2, 4-1 ACC) to Dean E. Smith Center. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 16, 2018.
The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 147.5 points with North Carolina opening as a 6-point favorite.
Clemson Tigers at North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Prediction
The last time the Tigers played, they beat the No. 18 Miami (FL) Hurricanes, 72-63. Converting at the free throw line was one of Clemson’s largest strengths. They were 16-17 (94.1 percent), while the Hurricanes were just 9-18 (50.0 percent). Clemson rallied around Donte Grantham, who was the top scorer from either team with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
The Tar Heels won a close one over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in their last contest, 69-68. North Carolina’s turnover percentage was their biggest strength over Notre Dame. The Tar Heels had a rate of 9.3 (better than their season average of 15.0), while the Fighting Irish posted a mark of 13.2. Luke Maye was North Carolina’s leading scorer with 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting.
The game should be a showdown of strength against strength as the high-octane offense of North Carolina (54th in the NCAA with an offensive efficiency of 113.1) takes on the elite defense of Clemson (27th in the NCAA with a defensive efficiency of 93.9).
Clemson comes into the contest with records of 15-2 straight up (SU) and 9-5 against the spread (ATS). Tigers games have no tendency in regards to the O/U total, as there has been an even split between games finishing over and under.
Meanwhile, North Carolina is 14-4 SU and 9-7-1 ATS. Tar Heels games have a slight tendency to finish over the O/U total (47.1 percent).
Grantham has averaged 15.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks over the last five games for Clemson.
After the Tar Heels won the lone game against the Tigers last season, 89-86, these teams will battle for the first time this year. North Carolina out-rebounded Clemson. The Tar Heels had 23 offensive rebounds and 51 total rebounds, while the Tigers had 10 and 32, respectively.
Clemson Tigers at North Carolina Tar Heels Odds Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – North Carolina, ATS Winner – North Carolina, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes:
Clemson is 3-4 ATS on the road with 4 overs and 3 unders.
North Carolina is 5-2 ATS at home with 5 overs, 1 under and 1 push.
Clemson ranks 20th in assists allowed per game (10.4) while North Carolina ranks 191st (14.7).
The Tigers rank 113th in three pointers allowed per game (21.4) while the Tar Heels rank 257th (26.9).
Clemson averages 5.6 blocks per game, which ranks 18th in the NCAA. North Carolina ranks 161st in blocks allowed per game (4.8).
The Tar Heels rank first in rebounds per game (44.2) while the Tigers rank 104th (36.9).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, Clemson is 2-3 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
North Carolina is 1-3-1 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over their last five games.
The Tigers’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 6.6, down from 13.1 for the season.
During their last five games, the Tar Heels have scored an average of 73.4 points per game (9.2 below their season average) and allowed an average of 69.0 points per game (2.1 below their season average).
