Wake Forest vs North Carolina Predictions, College Basketball Expert Picks 3/3/2020

Game: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs North Carolina Tar Heels

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Location: Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC

TV: ESPN, ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: North Carolina -7

Total/Over-Under: 152

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons travel to Dean Smith Center to play the North Carolina Tar Heels on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. The opening line for this matchup has North Carolina as 7 point favorites.

Wake Forest heads into this matchup with a mark of 13-15. They currently have a point differential of -0.2 as they are averaging 73.5 points per contest while giving up 73.7 per game. North Carolina has an overall record of 12-17. They are averaging 71.8 points per game and surrendering 72.2, good for a point differential of -0.4.

Valuable Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Trends

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 16-12-0 against the spread

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 18-8-2 against the over/under

Important North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 12-17-0 against the spread

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 13-14-2 against the over/under

Key Wake Forest Demon Deacons Injuries

03/02/20 G Torry Johnson Leg is questionable Tuesday vs North Carolina

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/16/19 F Sterling Manley Knee is out for season
03/02/20 F Armando Bacot Ankle is questionable Tuesday vs Wake Forest
01/03/20 G Anthony Harris Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Olivier Sarr averages 13.6 points per game in 26.2 minutes per contest. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 8.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 52% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%. Brandon Childress comes into this contest averaging 15.1 points per game while playing 35.3 minutes per night. He pulls down 3.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Player Spotlight

Garrison Brooks averages 16.1 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.7 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is 62%. Cole Anthony averages 19.7 points per game while playing 34.4 minutes per contest. He grabs 5.9 rebounds per game and has 3.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Demon Deacons allow 73.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 286th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 173rd and 136th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.5 rebounds a game which ranks 212th, and they give up 12.7 assists per contest which puts them in 189th place in the NCAA. They force 11.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the nation. Wake Forest averages 73.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 109th in the country. Their average scoring margin is -0.2 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 226th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 112th in D-1. They average 38.3 rebounds per game and 12.5 assists per contest, which ranks them 57th and 226th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 88th with 14.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Tar Heels surrender 72.2 points per contest, which ranks them 257th in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 127th and 192nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 246th with 13.6 assists allowed per contest, and 133rd with 34.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Tar Heels are 48th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.7 per game. North Carolina is 153rd in the country with 71.8 points per game this year. They are 270th in the D-1 in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is -0.4. They shoot 29% from 3-point range, which is good for 329th in the nation. They are 2nd in the country in rebounding with 42.3 boards per game and 59th in assists per contest with 14.6. The Tar Heels are 163rd in turnovers per game with 13.2.

Advanced Statistics

The Demon Deacons are 167th in the nation in offensive rating with 101.9. In terms of pace they are 94th in the country with 70.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 249th. As a team they are 149th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 282nd in Division 1. Wake Forest is 126th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 244th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions. The Tar Heels have an offensive rating of 100.2, which is ranked 204th. They are 110th in D-1 in pace with 70.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 46% is 322nd. As a unit they are 323rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 320th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take North Carolina -7

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