Syracuse at North Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/7/2018

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Barclays Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Syracuse Orange travel to Barclays Center to play the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The opening line for this game has North Carolina as 4 point favorites.

Syracuse comes into this game with an overall record of 19-12. They currently have a point differential of 3.5 as they are averaging 67.6 points per game while giving up 64.1 per contest. North Carolina has an overall record of 22-9. They are averaging 83.0 points per game and surrendering 74.0, good for a point differential of 8.9.

Valuable Syracuse Orange Betting Trends

The Syracuse Orange are 13-16 against the spread this season

The Syracuse Orange are 13-16 against the over/under this year

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 16-13 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 18-12 against the over/under this year

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

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

01/30/18 G Jalek Felton Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Franklin Howard averages 15.2 points per game in 38.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5 assists per contest and 3.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 39% for the year while his free throw percentage is 70%. Tyus Battle averages 20 points per game while playing 38.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Luke Maye averages 17.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.1 rebounds per contest and 2.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 63%. Joel Berry averages 17.8 points per game while playing 32.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.6 rebounds per game and has 3.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Orange allow 64.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 13th in the nation. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 8th and 94th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.7 rebounds a game which ranks 70th, and they give up 16.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 326th place in the country. They force 12.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 161st in college basketball. Syracuse averages 67.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 308th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 3.5 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a team, which has them ranked 311th. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 316th in D-1. They average 37.5 rebounds per game and 11.1 assists per game, which ranks them 80th and 327th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 233rd with 12.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Tar Heels surrender 74.0 points per contest, which ranks them 223rd in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 39% average from 3-point range, ranking them 108th and 333rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 297th with 15.0 assists allowed per contest, and 38th with 32.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Tar Heels are 71st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.7 per game this season. North Carolina is 22nd in Division 1 with 83.0 points per game this year. They are 85th in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 8.9. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 80th in the nation. They are 1st in college basketball in rebounding with 42.7 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 18.0. The Tar Heels are 238th in turnovers per game with 12.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Orange are 54th in the country in defensive rating with 97.9, and their offensive rating of 103.3 is ranked 214th. They are 343rd in college basketball in pace with 64.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 326th. As a unit they are 291st in the nation in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 281st in D-1. Syracuse is 184th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 27th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 313th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 203rd in the nation. The Tar Heels are 19th in the country in offensive rating with 114.9, and their defensive rating of 102.5 is ranked 180th. In terms of pace they are 69th in Division 1 with 71.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 97th. As a team they are 114th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 250th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take North Carolina -4

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