College hoops odds, picks, best bets
Other than the brands involved, North Carolina hosting North Carolina State is a fairly forgettable game on Wednesday’s slate.
The Tar Heels are poised to miss the NCAA Tournament, while the Wolfpack may not even qualify for the conference tourney.
However, every game presents an opportunity to cash a ticket. And that’s why I am backing the 9.5-point road underdog, hoping to build on my 25-13 record against the spread (ATS) in this sports section and a college hoops season that is +51.52 units documented at OnlyPlayers.com.
NC State vs. North Carolina odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC State | +9.5 (-110) | +375 | o146.5 (-115) |
| North Carolina | -9.5 (-110) | -500 | u146.5 (-105) |
UNC is a team I strongly dislike.
Every time I watch the Tar Heels, I find them lazy and undisciplined. And unlike many previous UNC teams, it is not exactly loaded with talent.
In a down ACC year, the Tar Heels have lost to the ranked teams by double digits. We know what they are, which is furthered by their 7-18-1 ATS mark that ranks second-worst in the nation.
N.C. State has also been disappointing. The Wolfpack are lurking near the conference cellar and the point spread has not helped much, given that they are 8-17 ATS.
But sometimes you need to hold your nose and back an ugly ’dog, and that is what I am doing in this rivalry game. This is a bet against UNC instead of a bet on N.C. State.
The Tar Heels won the earlier meeting in Raleigh by two points, and I do not see any reason this should be a one-sided game. We just saw UNC struggle as a nine-point favorite at Syracuse, winning by six.
Betting on College Basketball?
In my eyes, the Tar Heels’ sloppy play prevents them from a blowout win. They have two double-digit conference wins but those opponents (SMU and Cal) had to travel out of their time zone.
This is a much different situation with programs, players and coaches that know each other.
The play: N.C. State +9.5 (-110, BetMGM Sportsbook)
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Why Trust New York Post Betting
Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who currently serves as the Chief Content Officer for Only Players, a sports betting media company. Doug has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
