North Carolina Tar Heels vs UConn Huskies Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 12/05/2023

Game Time: 9:00 pm ET, Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Venue:  Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  UNC +5, UConn -5; Over/Under:  153 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  UNC +5, UConn -5; Over/Under:  153 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  UNC +5, UConn -5; Over/Under:  153 points

North Carolina Tar Heels:  7-1 (1-0) (2nd place, ACC)

UConn Huskies:  7-1 (0-0) (1st place, Big East)

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North Carolina Tar Heels:  4-1  last 5

UConn Huskies:  4-1  last 5

North Carolina is entering this game with a 7-1 record overall and they are 0-0 in their road games this season but this game will be at a neutral site. They are coming off a win against the Florida State Seminoles in their last game. RJ Davis led the team in points per game in that game with 27 while Armando Bacot was next on the team with 13. RJ Davis led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Armando Bacot led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 42.1% from the field, 22.7% from 3-point range, and 80.6% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 86.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 72 PPG against them. North Carolina has an ATS record of 4-4 this season and their O/U record is 5-2-1.

UConn is entering this game with a 7-1 record overall and they are 5-0 in their home games this season but this game will be at a neutral site. They are coming off a loss against the Kansas Jayhawks in their last game. Tristen Newton led the team in points in that game with 31 while Alex Karaban was next on the team with 10. Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, Donovan Clingan, and Hassan Diarra each led the team in assists with 2 in that game while Donovan Clingan led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 41.1% from the field, 39.3% from 3-point range, and 53.3% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 85.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 61.6 PPG against them. UConn has an ATS record of 4-4 this season and their O/U record is 4-4.

The current betting odds have UConn listed as a 5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. UConn has looked great in their games this season with their 7-1 record overall and the defending National Champions also enter this game ranked inside the top 5 in the country. They just lost their last game though as they are coming off a road loss against another very good team in the country, Kansas, and they will be looking to lay a beating here as they try to bounce back from that close loss. North Carolina has also looked great in their games this season with their 7-1 record overall but their 1 loss did come at a neutral site, also playing this game on a neutral site, and they lost to Villanova in that game. UNC has a really good team this year and they are out to prove a point after the way they fell off last year, but they aren't as good as UConn with their talent and even though this game is at a neutral site, they are getting UConn in the worst spot off a close loss in their last game against another top 5 team in the country. UConn will be looking to bounce back here and look for them to do it in blowout fashion after the way they played in their last game. The best way to place a bet here is on UConn to cover the spread in this game. 

North Carolina UConn Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Tuesday, December 5, 2023 (9:00 pm ET start time) is UConn 82 UNC 74.

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North Carolina Tar Heels: 40-65 ATS off 2 or more consecutive home wins. 3-7 ATS after playing 5 consecutive games as favorite. 14-7 OVER in all neutral court games. 9-1 OVER in a neutral court game where the total is 150 to 159.5. 

UConn Huskies: 15-5 ATS in all neutral court games. 25-12 ATS in non-conference games. 9-4 OVER after 2 or more consecutive unders. 10-3 OVER after a loss by 6 points or less. 11-6 OVER after 1 or more consecutive losses.

North Carolina Tar Heels:  None.

UConn Huskies:  S. Castle (G) Out indefinitely - Knee.

“It seemed like we were a step slow on both ends of the floor and just weren’t getting the loose balls, weren’t getting the rebounds, weren’t finishing around the basket, weren’t making open shots.” - Hubert Davis after his team’s win against FSU in their last game on Saturday.

“Just like Kansas, at UConn we don't do the moral victories or silver linings. Tristen carried us tonight. That was a virtuoso performance. I thought the program and our guys showed a champion's heart by putting ourselves in position to have a 3 to steal it, and get out of here with a win.” - Dan Hurley after his team’s loss against Kansas in their last game on Friday.

A. Bacot 

R. Davis 

H. Ingram 

C. Ryan 

P. Wojcik

S. Ball 

D. Clingan 

A. Karaban 

T. Newton 

C. Spencer

PPG: R. Davis (20.4)

APG: E. Cadeau (4)

Reb/G: A. Bacot (11.8)

PPG: T. Newton (17.5)

APG: T. Newton (6.3)

Reb/G: T. Newton (7.9)

Coaches:

North Carolina Tar Heels: Hubert Davis (3rd season)

UConn Huskies: Dan Hurley (6th season)