North Carolina at Syracuse College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/21/2018

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Carrier Dome

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The North Carolina Tar Heels travel to Carrier Dome to play the Syracuse Orange on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. The opening line for this game has North Carolina as 4 point favorites.

North Carolina heads into this matchup with a mark of 21-7. They currently have a point differential of 10.2 as they are averaging 83.6 points per contest while giving up 73.4 per game. Syracuse has an overall mark of 18-9. They are averaging 68.7 points per contest and giving up 63.4, which is a point differential of 5.2.

Valuable North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 16-10 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 16-11 against the over/under this year

Important Syracuse Orange Betting Trends

The Syracuse Orange are 11-14 against the spread this season

The Syracuse Orange are 11-14 against the over/under this year

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

02/20/18 G Andrew Platek Concussion is "?" Wednesday vs Syracuse
01/30/18 G Jalek Felton Suspension is out indefinitely

Key Syracuse Orange Injuries

12/01/17 G Geno Thorpe Left Team is out for season
02/01/18 G Howard Washington Leg is out for season

Player Spotlight

Joel Berry averages 17.7 points per game in 32.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.1 assists per contest and 3.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 40% for the year while his free throw percentage is 90%. Luke Maye averages 18.4 points per game while playing 32.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 10.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is at 63%.

Player Spotlight

Franklin Howard averages 15.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 38 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.3 rebounds per contest and 5.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 70%. Tyus Battle averages 19.9 points per game while playing 38.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Tar Heels allow 73.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 207th in the nation. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 39% average from behind the arc, ranking them 88th and 329th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.6 rebounds a game which ranks 33rd, and they give up 15.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 297th place in the country. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 64th in college basketball. North Carolina averages 83.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 21st in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 10.2 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 76th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 81st in D-1. They average 43.3 rebounds per game and 17.9 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 244th with 12.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Orange surrender 63.4 points per contest, which ranks them 10th in the country. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 82nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 319th with 15.8 assists allowed per contest, and 57th with 32.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Orange are 181st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.3 per game this season. Syracuse is 291st in Division 1 with 68.7 points per game this year. They are 281st in the country in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 5.2. They shoot 32% from 3-point range, which is good for 317th in the nation. They are 67th in college basketball in rebounding with 38.0 boards per game and 323rd in assists per contest with 11.3. The Orange are 240th in turnovers per game with 12.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Tar Heels are 138th in the country in defensive rating with 101.1, and their offensive rating of 115.1 is ranked 20th. They are 61st in college basketball in pace with 72.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 100th. As a unit they are 111th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 266th in D-1. North Carolina is 310th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 173rd in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Syracuse is 202nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 23rd in the nation. The Orange are 190th in the country in offensive rating with 104.2, and their defensive rating of 96.2 is ranked 31st. In terms of pace they are 345th in Division 1 with 64.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 313th. As a team they are 278th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 301st in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Syracuse +4

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