Published Feb 6, 2:24am ET by
Keith McCarthy - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 6, 2:24am ET
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Duke and North Carolina meet on Saturday for a classic rivalry matchup. The Blue Devils are on pace for a 1-seed and heavily favored on the road, but face a key challenge against the top-15 Tar Heels.
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| North Carolina Tar Heels | +205 |
| Duke Blue Devils | -250 |
Duke's winning streak made it to double digits against Boston College earlier in the week, as they remain on pace to receive a 1-seed in the latest Bracketology projections. The Blue Devils rank within in the top-5 on both offense and defense statistically, making them a tough team to take down. Seeking to keep their perfect 10-0 ACC record in tact, Duke will need to be at their best on the road against a rapidly improving North Carolina.
North Carolina has started to get into rhythm over the past couple of weeks, winning four games in a row by an average margin of over 13 points. This game against Duke will be their toughest test of the season. After going 0-3 against the Blue Devils last season, the Tar Heels are desperate for a victory here. Leading-scorer Caleb Wilson will aim to continue his stellar rookie season. He is currently averaging 20 ppg and nearly 10 rpg.
One of college basketball's best rivalries has another rendition in Saturday's Duke vs North Carolina matchup. The Blue Devils are heavily favored, despite being on their road. In the metrics, this matchup is closer to #3 vs #30 than #4 vs #14, but the Tar Heels have been on the rise lately. The numbers don't tell the whole story. Expect the crowd to be absolutely rocking on a Saturday evening, aiding North Carolina to a narrow victory.
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Pick
North Carolina Tar Heels (+205)
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