Duke Blue Devils vs UNC Tarheels Pick against the spread

Duke Blue Devils UNC Tarheels Pick against the Spread for the 2012 Matchup

No. 5 Duke Blue Devils vs. No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels – WED NCAAB Preview

NCAA Basketball Point Spread: OFF O/U OFF

Projected Odds: UNC is riding a 5-game winning streak and has not lost at home this season and I think they will be favored by around 5 or 6 points in this HUGE ACC game.

Futures Odds to win NCAA Championship:  Duke 9.00 / UNC 6.00

Tip Off: Wednesday February 8, 2012 9 PM EST on ESPN

By: Barrett Kazmerzack of Coopers Pick CALL NOW 1-888-730-COOP

Duke (19-4) is coming off another shocking home loss falling to an unranked Miami team in OT and they need to win this game to keep pace with UNC (20-3) and Florida State in the ACC title race. The Tar Heels are 7-1 in conference play and Duke is 6-2. Both Duke and UNC are high scoring teams, with the Tar Heels #1 and Duke 12^th, but the Tar Heels have the major advantage on the glass, as they have the nation’s top-ranked rebounding team while Duke only ranks 105^th. Last season Duke won 2 of 3 games facing UNC including beating them in the ACC title game.

In their last games Duke was at home and lost to Miami 78-74 and UNC was on the road and beat Maryland 83-74.

This season Duke is 9-14 ATS with an O/U record of 15-8 and UNC is 11-11 ATS with an O/U record of 11-11.

Duke lost the Miami game simply because they were ice cold shooting the rock with a FG% of 38.2% and they only hit 9 of their 31 3-pointers.

In the Miami loss Duke’ 2 leading scorers for the season in Austin Rivers (14.5 ppg) and Seth Curry (12.6 ppg) did their part shooting well and combining for 42 points, but all the other players struggled. These 2 not only have to play well against UNC, but they will need the other guys to step up.

The Tar Heels will have to win this game with their offense since their D only ranks 204^th in the nation in opponents’ points allowed.

UNC is led by the best frontcourt in the nation in the trio of F Harrison Barnes (17.3 ppg), 7’ C Tyler Zeller (15.3 ppg 9.6 rpg), and 6/’11” F John Henson (14.3 ppg 10 rpg). For Duke to have any chance to slow these guys down they will need great games from the 6’10” Miles and Mason Plumlee, who are averaging a combined 15.6 rpg this season. This duo must play good inside defense and not allow the Tar Heels to dominate the glass.

Duke must knock down some 3’s in their game, as if they are cold shooting like in the Miami game they will lose this big conference match up, which may take them out of the ACC title race.

In some betting trends for this ACC match up Duke is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games, 0-5 ATS in their last 5 away games, and have an Over record of 6-4 in their last 10 games.

North Carolina is 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games, 4-2 ATS in their last 6 home games, and they have an Over record of 6-4 in their last 10 games.