Western Carolina at North Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/6/2017

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Dean E. Smith Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Western Carolina Catamounts travel to Dean E. Smith Center to play the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday, December 6, 2017. The opening line for this game has North Carolina as 30 point favorites.

Western Carolina comes into this game with an overall record of 3-6. They currently have a point differential of -13.2 as they are averaging 67.0 points per game while giving up 80.2 per contest. North Carolina has an overall mark of 8-1. They are averaging 86.3 points per contest and giving up 72.2, which is a point differential of 14.1.

Valuable Western Carolina Catamounts Betting Trends

The Western Carolina Catamounts are 5-3 against the spread this season

The Western Carolina Catamounts are 6-2 against the over/under this year

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 5-3 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 5-3 against the over/under this year

Key Western Carolina Catamounts Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

11/15/17 G Cameron Johnson Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Matt Halvorsen averages 11.7 points per game while playing 24.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 0.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 56% while his free throw percentage is at 82%. Deriece Parks averages 10.4 points per game in 25.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.1 assists per contest and 3.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 40% for the year while his free throw percentage is 71%.

Player Spotlight

Luke Maye averages 20.8 points per game while playing 31.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 10.3 rebounds per game and has 2.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is at 58%. Joel Berry averages 16.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.5 rebounds per contest and 3.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 37% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Western Carolina averages 67.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 309th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -13.2 and their shooting percentage is 40% as a team, which has them ranked 320th. Behind the arc they shoot 39%, which is good for 63rd in the country. They average 33.3 rebounds per game and 12.7 assists per game, which ranks them 295th and 247th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 63rd with 15.6 per game. The Catamounts allow 80.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 303rd in Division 1. They also allow a 49% shooting percentage and a 39% average from behind the arc, ranking them 327th and 302nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 38.2 rebounds a game which ranks 285th and they give up 15.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 283rd place in college basketball. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 261st in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina is 31st in the country with 86.3 points per game this year. They are 55th in D-1 in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 14.1. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 159th in college basketball. They are 7th in the nation in rebounding with 43.9 boards per game, and 32nd in assists per contest with 17.8. The Tar Heels are 263rd in turnovers per game with 12.6. The Tar Heels surrender 72.2 points per contest, which ranks them 184th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 39% average from 3-point range, ranking them 95th and 308th in those defensive statistics. They rank 294th with 15.4 assists allowed per contest and 42nd with 31.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Tar Heels are 106th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Catamounts are 323rd in the country in defensive rating with 111.8, and their offensive rating of 93.3 is ranked 321st. They are 166th in college basketball in pace with 71.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 300th. As a unit they are 324th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 217th in D-1. Western Carolina is 64th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 56%, which is 323rd in the country.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 304th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 164th in the nation. The Tar Heels are 41st in the country in offensive rating with 114.4, and their defensive rating of 95.7 is ranked 112th. In terms of pace they are 44th in Division 1 with 75.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 102nd. As a team they are 111th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shots, ranking 328th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take North Carolina -30

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