North Carolina at Wake Forest: College Basketball Odds & Predictions
Written January 10, 2009 by Jay Horne
#3 North Carolina (14-1) at #4 Wake Forest (13-0) — This Sunday after the NFL Playoffs are over college basketball will take the spotlight with a battle of top 5 teams from the ACC when the North Carolina Tar Heels visit the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The game marks the start of conference play for Wake Forest in a great match-up to determine ACC supremacy. The Demon Deacons are among only two unbeaten teams left in the conference and their early season success has them ranked at #4 in the nation. North Carolina started the season a top the polls and remained America’s top team until last Sunday’s upset to Boston College 78-85. Both teams are scheduled to square off this Sunday in what should be a high scoring shootout between two of the best offensive teams in the nation. North Carolina is favored by 5.5 over Wake Forest Sunday night.
North Carolina poses as the number 2 scoring team in America averaging an incredible 94.6 points per game. The Tar Heels are led by the play of last year’s Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough and super-guard Ty Lawson. Hansbrough leads the team averaging 23 points per game, ranking him 13th in the nation individually. Hansbrough’s ability to take over games makes him an elite force. Opposing defenses have double and tripled down on him with little success in stopping the 6’9 senior. Hansbrough has had 20 points or more in 9 straight games and he will be a key target for the Wake Forest defensive scheme. Ty Lawson gave up his option to enter the NBA draft last season in hope to return along with Hansbrough to win a national championship. Lawson is averaging a strong 15 points per game this season. These two players will lead a North Carolina team that is shooting 50.7% from the floor, 6th-best in all of college basketball, in attempt to take down the Demon Deacons on the road this Sunday night.
Not sure who to take in the game tonight? Check out NCAA basketball picks from award-winning handicappers. They’ll help you make the right choice!
Wake Forest been posting big numbers on the score board as well this season. The Demon Deacons rank 4th nationally in field goal percentage shooting, a stout 51.2% for the year. Wake Forest also ranks 6th in the nation in team scoring averaging 85.2 points per game. The match-up with North Carolina promises to be a fast paced game with a lot of scoring and the Demon Deacons will look for the help of sophomore guard Jeff Teague to lift them over one of the most talented teams in America. Teague operates the high power Wake Forest scoring attack and also leads the team with 19.6 points per contest. Teague can hit shots from any position on the court as he has proven shooting over 50% from the floor and behind the arc. A big factor in this game will likely be which team can control the boards. Wake Forest ranks 3rd in the nation in rebounds with 43.8 per game, but the Tar Heels are not far behind with an 8th best 42.8 boards per game. The Demon Deacons will look to control the boards this weekend and get some second chance opportunities in a game that could go down to the wire.
Prediction – North Carolina just got beaten and I think they will perform at a top-level against a Wake Forest team that has yet to play an extremely strong team this season. I like the Tar Heels in a shootout.
Take the North Carolina Tar Heels -5.5
Sunday’s college basketball betting features some great games, including this one. Be sure to check our comparative NCAA basketball spreads to be sure you are getting the best line on every game you bet. You can also buy top-rated college basketball picks from any one of our expert handicappers.
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