UCLA vs North Carolina College Basketball Betting Tips 12/21/2019

Game: UCLA Bruins vs North Carolina Tar Heels

Date: Saturday, December 21, 2019

Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV

TV: CBS

Odds/Point Spread: North Carolina -3.5

Total/Over-Under: 141

The UCLA Bruins head to T-Mobile Arena to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, December 21, 2019. The opening line for this game has North Carolina as 3.5 point favorites.

UCLA heads into this matchup with a mark of 7-4. They currently have a point differential of 6.7 as they are averaging 73.2 points per contest while giving up 66.5 per game. North Carolina has an overall mark of 6-5. They are averaging 69.5 points per contest and giving up 68.6, which is a point differential of 0.9.

Valuable UCLA Bruins Betting Trends

The UCLA Bruins are 6-5-0 against the spread this season

The UCLA Bruins are 5-5-1 against the over/under this year

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 3-8-0 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 2-9-0 against the over/under this year

Key UCLA Bruins Injuries

12/15/19 G Jules Bernard Shoulder is questionable
12/14/19 G David Singleton Foot is questionable
11/22/19 F Kenneth Nwuba Redshirt is out for season

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/19/19 G Brandon Robinson Illness left last game, is questionable
12/16/19 F Sterling Manley Knee is out for season
12/15/19 G Cole Anthony Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Chris Smith comes into this game averaging 11.3 points per contest while playing 26.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is 92%. Cody Riley averages 11.1 points per contest in 23.0 minutes per game. He averages 1.2 assists per game and 5.6 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% for the season while his free throw percentage is 47%.

Player Spotlight

Armando Bacot scores 9.5 points per contest while playing 20.8 minutes per game. He hauls in 8.1 rebounds per contest and has 0.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 55%. Garrison Brooks averages 12.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 8.3 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 69%.

Useful Team Statistics

UCLA averages 73.2 points per contest, which is 162nd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 6.7 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 131st. From 3-point territory they shoot 32%, which is good for 228th in the nation. They average 38.9 boards per contest and 13.5 assists per game, which ranks them 80th and 175th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 256th with 12.6 per game. The Bruins allow 66.5 points per contest, which is 127th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 162nd and 313th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.1 rebounds a game which ranks 21st, and they allow 9.8 assists per game which puts them in 35th place in the country. They force 13.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 107th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina is 236th in the nation with 69.5 points per contest this season. They are 311th in the country in shooting at 40%, while their average scoring margin is 0.9. They shoot 30% from beyond the arc, which is good for 299th in the NCAA. They are 1st in D-1 in rebounding with 45.3 boards per contest and 179th in assists per game with 13.4. The Tar Heels are 236th in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Tar Heels give up 68.6 points per game, which ranks them 179th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 86th and 255th in those defensive statistics. They rank 263rd with 13.8 dimes allowed per game and 152nd with 34.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Tar Heels are 11th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bruins have an offensive rating of 107.5, which is ranked 74th. They are 274th in college basketball in pace with 68.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 200th. As a unit they are 172nd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 329th in D-1. UCLA is 262nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 290th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15 times per 100 possessions. The Tar Heels have an offensive rating of 98.1, which is ranked 255th. They are 158th in D-1 in pace with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 45% is 329th. As a unit they are 330th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 48% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 314th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take UCLA +3.5

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