North Carolina at Tennessee College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/17/2017

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Thompson-Boling Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The North Carolina Tar Heels travel to Thompson-Boling Arena to play the Tennessee Volunteers on Sunday, December 17, 2017. The opening line for this game has North Carolina as 2 point favorites.

North Carolina heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-1. They currently have a point differential of 17.0 as they are averaging 88.1 points per contest while giving up 71.1 per game. Tennessee has an overall record of 7-1. They are averaging 79.4 points per game and surrendering 65.6, good for a point differential of 13.8.

Valuable North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 6-3 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 6-3 against the over/under this year

Important Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends

The Tennessee Volunteers are 4-2 against the spread this season

The Tennessee Volunteers are 4-2 against the over/under this year

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/06/17 G Seventh Woods Foot is out indefinitely
11/15/17 G Cameron Johnson Knee is out indefinitely

Key Tennessee Volunteers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Joel Berry averages 16 points per game in 29.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.7 assists per contest and 2.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 36% for the year while his free throw percentage is 88%. Luke Maye averages 19.9 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 10.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 58%.

Player Spotlight

Admiral Schofield averages 11.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 23.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.5 rebounds per contest and 1.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 80%. Grant Williams averages 16.1 points per game while playing 27.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 7.3 rebounds per game and has 2.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 75%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Tar Heels allow 71.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 162nd in the nation. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 60th and 301st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 30.9 rebounds a game which ranks 30th, and they give up 15.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 298th place in the country. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 129th in college basketball. North Carolina averages 88.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 17th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 17.0 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 36th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 42nd in D-1. They average 44.8 rebounds per game and 19.1 assists per game, which ranks them 5th and 10th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 225th with 13.0 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Volunteers surrender 65.6 points per contest, which ranks them 66th in the country. Their defense allows a 38% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 175th in those defensive statistics. They rank 59th with 11.1 assists allowed per contest, and 188th with 35.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Volunteers are 322nd in the nation in forcing turnovers with 17.5 per game this season. Tennessee is 104th in Division 1 with 79.4 points per game this year. They are 175th in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 13.8. They shoot 41% from 3-point range, which is good for 22nd in the nation. They are 128th in college basketball in rebounding with 37.6 boards per game and 9th in assists per contest with 19.1. The Volunteers are 159th in turnovers per game with 13.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Tar Heels are 74th in the country in defensive rating with 93.8, and their offensive rating of 116.2 is ranked 28th. They are 24th in college basketball in pace with 75.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 63rd. As a unit they are 74th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 327th in D-1. North Carolina is 294th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 128th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Tennessee is 183rd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 21.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 45%, which is 35th in the nation. The Volunteers are 74th in the country in offensive rating with 111.8, and their defensive rating of 92.4 is ranked 53rd. In terms of pace they are 235th in Division 1 with 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 151st. As a team they are 112th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 220th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's North Carolina/Tennessee college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Tennessee +2

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald