Duke at North Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/8/2018

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Dean E. Smith Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Duke Blue Devils head to Dean E. Smith Center to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Thursday, February 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has North Carolina as 1.5 point favorites.

Duke heads into this matchup with a mark of 19-4. They currently have a point differential of 17.2 as they are averaging 89.6 points per contest while giving up 72.4 per game. North Carolina has an overall record of 17-7. They are averaging 82.8 points per game and surrendering 72.8, good for a point differential of 10.0.

Valuable Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

The Duke Blue Devils are 13-8 against the spread this season

The Duke Blue Devils are 15-6 against the over/under this year

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 12-10 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 14-9 against the over/under this year

Key Duke Blue Devils Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/06/17 G Seventh Woods Foot is out indefinitely
01/30/18 G Jalek Felton Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Marvin Bagley III averages 21.4 points per contest while playing 32.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 11.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is 62%. Gary Trent Jr. averages 15 points per contest in 32.7 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.6 assists per game and 4.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Luke Maye scores 18.3 points per contest while playing 32.3 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 10.3 rebounds per contest and has 2.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is at 62%. Joel Berry averages 17.3 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.6 rebounds per game and has 3.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Duke averages 89.6 points per contest this year, which is 1st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 17.2 and their shooting percentage is 51% as a unit, which has them ranked 9th. From 3-point territory they shoot 39%, which is good for 35th in Division 1. They average 42.6 boards per contest and 18.5 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 240th with 12.5 per game. The Blue Devils allow 72.4 points per contest, which is 178th in the country. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 43rd and 164th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 32.1 rebounds a game which ranks 52nd, and they allow 13.7 assists per game which puts them in 204th place in college basketball. They force 12.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 80th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina is 30th in the country with 82.8 points per contest this season. They are 98th in the nation in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 10.0. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 81st in Division 1. They are 1st in the country in rebounding with 43.4 boards per contest and 9th in assists per game with 18.0. The Tar Heels are 205th in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Tar Heels give up 72.8 points per game, which ranks them 197th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 42% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 62nd and 324th in those defensive statistics. They rank 288th with 15.0 dimes allowed per game and 37th with 31.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Tar Heels are 73rd in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 12.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Blue Devils are 2nd in the nation in offensive rating with 122.8, and their defensive rating of 99.2 is ranked 106th. In terms of pace they are 55th in the country with 72.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 57% is 15th. As a team they are 20th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 260th in Division 1. Duke is 311th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 41st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 292nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 159th in the nation. The Tar Heels are 28th in the country in offensive rating with 113.4, and their defensive rating of 99.7 is ranked 114th. In terms of pace they are 53rd in Division 1 with 72.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 119th. As a team they are 118th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 262nd in the nation.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Duke +1.5

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