Ohio State at North Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/23/2017

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Smoothie King Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes head to Smoothie King Center to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, December 23, 2017.

Ohio State comes into this game with an overall record of 10-3. They currently have a point differential of 12.4 as they are averaging 79.5 points per game while giving up 67.1 per contest. North Carolina has an overall record of 10-2. They are averaging 86.2 points per game and surrendering 71.9, good for a point differential of 14.3.

Valuable Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 5-6 against the spread this season

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 2-9 against the over/under this year

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 7-4 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 7-4 against the over/under this year

Key Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/06/17 G Seventh Woods Foot is out indefinitely
11/15/17 G Cameron Johnson Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Keita Bates-Diop averages 18.2 points per contest while playing 31 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is 83%. C.J. Jackson averages 13 points per contest in 29.4 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.4 assists per game and 4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Luke Maye scores 19.3 points per contest while playing 31.5 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 10.6 rebounds per contest and has 2.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 61%. Joel Berry averages 17.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 2.8 rebounds per game and has 3.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 37% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Ohio State averages 79.5 points per contest this year, which is 92nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 12.4 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a unit, which has them ranked 35th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 165th in Division 1. They average 38.0 boards per contest and 15.6 assists per game, which ranks them 112th and 89th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 178th with 13.6 per game. The Buckeyes allow 67.1 points per contest, which is 82nd in the country. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 100th and 123rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.5 rebounds a game which ranks 20th, and they allow 11.5 assists per game which puts them in 64th place in college basketball. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 213th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina is 22nd in the country with 86.2 points per contest this season. They are 62nd in the nation in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 14.3. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 74th in Division 1. They are 5th in the country in rebounding with 44.2 boards per contest and 20th in assists per game with 18.3. The Tar Heels are 197th in turnovers per contest with 13.3. The Tar Heels give up 71.9 points per game, which ranks them 180th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 57th and 294th in those defensive statistics. They rank 283rd with 15.2 dimes allowed per game and 59th with 31.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Tar Heels are 112th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Buckeyes are 74th in the country in defensive rating with 94.6, and their offensive rating of 112 is ranked 67th. They are 209th in college basketball in pace with 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 50th. As a unit they are 49th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 246th in D-1. Ohio State is 161st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 130th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 285th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 113th in the nation. The Tar Heels are 41st in the country in offensive rating with 114.1, and their defensive rating of 95.3 is ranked 86th. In terms of pace they are 28th in Division 1 with 75.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 109th. As a team they are 99th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 319th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Ohio State/North Carolina college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Ohio State

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