Wake Forest at North Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/30/2017

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Dean E. Smith Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons travel to Dean E. Smith Center to play the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, December 30, 2017. The opening line for this game has North Carolina as 15 point favorites.

Wake Forest heads into this matchup with a mark of 7-5. They currently have a point differential of 6.1 as they are averaging 78.7 points per contest while giving up 72.6 per game. North Carolina has an overall record of 11-2. They are averaging 86.2 points per game and surrendering 71.9, good for a point differential of 14.2.

Valuable Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Trends

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 4-6 against the spread this season

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 3-7 against the over/under this year

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 8-4 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 8-4 against the over/under this year

Key Wake Forest Demon Deacons Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/06/17 G Seventh Woods Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Keyshawn Woods averages 16 points per game while playing 29.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is at 89%. Bryant Crawford averages 15.3 points per game in 28.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.7 assists per contest and 2.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 91%.

Player Spotlight

Luke Maye averages 18.5 points per game while playing 31.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 10.5 rebounds per game and has 2.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 63%. Joel Berry averages 17.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

Wake Forest averages 78.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 96th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 6.1 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 71st. Behind the arc they shoot 39%, which is good for 57th in the country. They average 35.2 rebounds per game and 13.2 assists per game, which ranks them 220th and 232nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 128th with 14.2 per game. The Demon Deacons allow 72.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 197th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 40% average from behind the arc, ranking them 167th and 332nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.3 rebounds a game which ranks 73rd and they give up 14.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 249th place in college basketball. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 220th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina is 22nd in the country with 86.2 points per game this year. They are 66th in D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 14.2. They shoot 40% from 3-point range, which is good for 39th in college basketball. They are 5th in the nation in rebounding with 43.8 boards per game, and 20th in assists per contest with 18.1. The Tar Heels are 163rd in turnovers per game with 13.7. The Tar Heels surrender 71.9 points per contest, which ranks them 177th in the country. Their defense allows a 40% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 60th and 289th in those defensive statistics. They rank 273rd with 14.8 assists allowed per contest and 43rd with 31.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Tar Heels are 114th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Demon Deacons are 53rd in the nation in offensive rating with 113.2, and their defensive rating of 104.4 is ranked 254th. In terms of pace they are 247th in the country with 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 67th. As a team they are 41st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 184th in Division 1. Wake Forest is 104th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 260th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 254th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 108th in the nation. The Tar Heels are 45th in the country in offensive rating with 113.8, and their defensive rating of 95 is ranked 76th. In terms of pace they are 25th in Division 1 with 75.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 93rd. As a team they are 82nd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 311th in the nation.

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

Tony's Pick: Take North Carolina -15

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