Pittsburgh at North Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/3/2018

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Dean E. Smith Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Pittsburgh Panthers travel to Dean E. Smith Center to play the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, February 3, 2018. The opening line for this game has North Carolina as 22.5 point favorites.

Pittsburgh heads into this matchup with a mark of 8-15. They currently have a point differential of -6.6 as they are averaging 63.7 points per contest while giving up 70.3 per game. North Carolina has an overall record of 16-7. They are averaging 82.3 points per game and surrendering 73.1, good for a point differential of 9.1.

Valuable Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 11-7 against the spread this season

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 2-16 against the over/under this year

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 11-10 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 13-9 against the over/under this year

Key Pittsburgh Panthers Injuries

01/12/18 F Ryan Luther Foot is out for season

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/06/17 G Seventh Woods Foot is out indefinitely
02/02/18 F Theo Pinson Shoulder injured last game, is "?" Saturday vs Pittsburgh
01/30/18 G Jalek Felton Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jared Wilson-Frame averages 13 points per game while playing 28.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 51% while his free throw percentage is at 82%. Marcus Carr averages 10.5 points per game in 29.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.3 assists per contest and 2.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Luke Maye averages 18 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 10.4 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 60%. Joel Berry averages 17.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.5 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Pittsburgh averages 63.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 341st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -6.6 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a team, which has them ranked 306th. Behind the arc they shoot 33%, which is good for 287th in the country. They average 32.8 rebounds per game and 13.0 assists per game, which ranks them 305th and 231st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 65th with 14.6 per game. The Panthers allow 70.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 132nd in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 117th and 44th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.8 rebounds a game which ranks 264th and they give up 14.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 254th place in college basketball. They force 11.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina is 33rd in the country with 82.3 points per game this year. They are 112th in D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 9.1. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 92nd in college basketball. They are 1st in the nation in rebounding with 43.2 boards per game, and 14th in assists per contest with 17.5. The Tar Heels are 202nd in turnovers per game with 12.9. The Tar Heels surrender 73.1 points per contest, which ranks them 204th in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 39% average from 3-point range, ranking them 73rd and 327th in those defensive statistics. They rank 295th with 15.1 assists allowed per contest and 46th with 31.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Tar Heels are 64th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.0 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Panthers are 326th in the nation in offensive rating with 95.3, and their defensive rating of 105.1 is ranked 255th. In terms of pace they are 327th in the country with 66.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 257th. As a team they are 246th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shots, ranking 18th in Division 1. Pittsburgh is 16th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 19.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 93rd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 284th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 168th in the nation. The Tar Heels are 36th in the country in offensive rating with 112.6, and their defensive rating of 100.1 is ranked 138th. In terms of pace they are 61st in Division 1 with 72.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 126th. As a team they are 126th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 266th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take North Carolina -22.5

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