North Carolina (28-7) vs Michigan State (20-14)
Game Info: Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 5:30 pm (Spectrum Center)
Betting Odds: North Carolina -3.5 - Over/Under: 140.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: CBS
The Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels will meet in the West Region’s Round of 32 this Saturday in Charlotte at the Spectrum Center on CBS. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here's a Michigan State vs. North Carolina Prediction.
Michigan State Preview: Will the Spartans Shake Up the Field?
Michigan State enters at 20-14 after defeating Mississippi State in the Round of 64, 69-51. The Spartans used a strong two-way effort to prevail in the 8/9 matchup with the Bulldogs, and they’ll look to hand the Tar Heels an upset this Saturday. MSU is scoring 73.0 points per game, on 46.2% shooting, while allowing 65.5 ppg, and they’re 9-1 over their previous ten games.
Michigan State Team Profile
- Veteran guard Tyson Walker led the way with 19 points in the win over Mississippi State, and he paced Michigan State in scoring (18.4).
- Senior guard A.J. Hoggard recorded 10 dimes in the loss to Purdue, and he’s dished out a team-leading 5.1 apg, while scoring 10.8 ppg.
- Veteran forward Malik Hall leads MSU in rebounding (5.7), while averaging 12.7 ppg.
North Carolina Preview: Can the Tar Heels Capitalize on Home Soil?
North Carolina comes in at 28-7 after defeating Wagner in the Round of 64, 90-62. Before that win, the Tar Heels lost to NC State. The Tar Heels come out sharp versus the Seahawks, and they’ll look to replicate that effort here against the Spartans. UNC is scoring 81.7 points per game, on 45.2% shooting, while allowing 70.0 ppg, and they’re 9-1 over their previous ten games.
North Carolina Team Profile
- Senior guard RJ Davis went for a team-high 22 points in the win over Wagner, and he leads North Carolina in scoring (21.1).
- Veteran big Armando Bacot has scored 18 points or more in three straight games, and he leads UNC in rebounding (10.3), while scoring (14.1).
- Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram is due for a big game after three quiet outings, and he’s still posting a solid line of 12.4 ppg and 9.1 rpg.
- Former Notre Dame guard Cormac Ryan has knocked down multiple treys in four of his last six outings, and he’s averaging 11.5 ppg.
Michigan State Spartans Team Facts
- MSU has hit the Game Total Under in 20 of their last 35 games
North Carolina Tar Heels Team Facts
- UNC has covered the Spread in 16 of their last 25 games
- North Carolina has hit the Game Total Under in 14 of their last 23 games
Michigan State vs UNC Trends
- North Carolina leads the head-to-head series, 12-4, but Michigan St. did win the most recent meeting back in 2017, 63-45.
- MSU is 19-14-1 against the spread, with a 14-20 O/U record
- UNC is 19-15-1 ATS, with a 17-18 over/under record.
Michigan State vs North Carolina Prediction: UNC Finds A Way to Prevail Over the Spartans
As a Duke fan it pains me to say this in March, but this feels like a good spot for Carolina to advance versus Sparty. The biggest factor will be having this matchup in Charlotte, which should essentially serve as a home game for UNC, and they should be able to capitalize. Never count out a Tom Izzo-led team in postseason play, but this North Carolina team has been thru a lot in a short time under Hubert Davis, and I believe they’ll come out sharp. From blowing a massive lead in the title game to Kansas, to missing the field completely as a preseason number one the following year, this group has seen it all, and they shouldn’t blow this manageable matchup in their backyard. Lean on UNC to advance to the Sweet 16 in the Queen City this Saturday.
Corey’s Pick UNC TO COVER
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
