Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels Predictions, Expert College Basketball Picks 2/8/2020

Game: Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels

Date: Saturday, February 8, 2020

Location: Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: North Carolina +7

Total/Over-Under: 149.5

The Duke Blue Devils head to Dean Smith Center to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, February 8, 2020. The opening line for this game has Duke as 7 point favorites.

Duke heads into this matchup with a mark of 19-3. They currently have a point differential of 17.7 as they are averaging 82.5 points per contest while giving up 64.7 per game. North Carolina has an overall record of 10-12. They are averaging 70.9 points per game and surrendering 70.5, good for a point differential of 0.4.

Valuable Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

The Duke Blue Devils are 12-10-0 against the spread this season

The Duke Blue Devils are 15-7-0 against the over/under this year

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 8-14-0 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 8-12-2 against the over/under this year

Key Duke Blue Devils Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/16/19 F Sterling Manley Knee is out for season
02/06/20 G Brandon Robinson Ankle is out indefinitely
01/03/20 G Anthony Harris Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Vernon Carey Jr. comes into this game averaging 17.8 points per contest while playing 24.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 9.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is 62%. Tre Jones averages 15.2 points per contest in 34.3 minutes per game. He averages 6.7 assists per game and 3.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 75%.

Player Spotlight

Armando Bacot scores 10.5 points per contest while playing 24.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 8.1 rebounds per contest and has 1.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 66%. Garrison Brooks averages 14.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 34.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.0 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 59%.

Useful Team Statistics

Duke averages 82.5 points per contest, which is 3rd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 17.7 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 12th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 73rd in the nation. They average 39.8 boards per contest and 16.4 assists per game, which ranks them 27th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 166th with 13.4 per game. The Blue Devils allow 64.7 points per contest, which is 67th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 92nd and 22nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 32.9 rebounds a game which ranks 74th, and they allow 11.6 assists per game which puts them in 106th place in the country. They force 16.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 317th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina is 185th in the nation with 70.9 points per contest this season. They are 308th in the country in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin is 0.4. They shoot 30% from beyond the arc, which is good for 326th in the NCAA. They are 1st in D-1 in rebounding with 43.2 boards per contest and 93rd in assists per game with 14.3. The Tar Heels are 215th in turnovers per contest with 12.9. The Tar Heels give up 70.5 points per game, which ranks them 213th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 104th and 190th in those defensive statistics. They rank 231st with 13.2 dimes allowed per game and 147th with 34.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Tar Heels are 43rd in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Blue Devils are 7th in the nation in offensive rating with 112.9. In terms of pace they are 51st in the country with 72.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 28th. As a team they are 38th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 292nd in Division 1. Duke is 248th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 285th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15 times per 100 possessions. The Tar Heels have an offensive rating of 98.9, which is ranked 238th. They are 125th in D-1 in pace with 70.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 45% is 334th. As a unit they are 334th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 49% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 317th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Duke -7

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