North Carolina vs Kentucky Prediction 12/2/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Kentucky Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels will meet Tuesday night in a headline ACC/SEC Challenge matchup at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

The Kentucky Wildcats enter Tuesday night’s contest with a 5–2 win-loss record. Kentucky has compiled wins over Nicholls State, Valparaiso, Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech, while dropping games to Louisville and the Michigan State Spartans. In the Kentucky Wildcats dominant 104–54 win over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles five days ago, sophomore forward Trent Noah tallied 16 points and 5 rebounds.

The Wildcats are averaging 89.9 points (27th in country) on 50.5 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent shooting from the three‑point line. The Wildcats are allowing opponents 63.1 points (15th in the nation) on 35.8 percent shooting from the field (5th in country) per game.

Senior guard Denzel Aberdeen has been a solid contributor for the Wildcats, averaging 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Senior guard Otega Oweh is averaging 13 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per contest. Freshman center Malachi Moreno is averaging 10.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview

The North Carolina Tar Heels enter Tuesday’s contest with a 6–1 record. North Carolina has compiled wins over Kansas, Radford, NC Central, Navy, and St. Bonaventure, while losing to the Michigan State Spartans. In the Tar Heels 73–61 win over Navy, North Carolina freshman forward Caleb Wilson tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds 4 steals and 3 blocks.

The Tar Heels are averaging 83.3 points per game on 46.8 percent shooting from the field and 31.8 percent shooting from three‑point range. Defensively, the North Carolina Tar Heels are allowing 65.7 points per game which ranks 32nd in the country.

Forward Caleb Wilson leads the Tar Heels averaging 19.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Junior center Henri Veesaar is averaging 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks a contest. Senior guard Seth Trimble is averaging 14.5 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1 steal a game.

Why the Kentucky Wildcats Will Win

•            Explosive offense and defense. The Kentucky Wildcats are averaging 89.9 points per game. Defensively, the Wildcats are allowing opponents to shoot just 35.8 percent from the field per game (fifth in nation).

•            Interior presence. Freshman center Malachi Moreno provides rebounding and rim protection.

•            Home court advantage. The Kentucky Wildcats are 5–0 at Rupp Arena this season.

Why the North Carolina Tar Heels Will Win

•            Forward Caleb Wilson is averaging 19.9 points, 10 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

•            Defensive efficiency. Through 7 games played this season, the North Carolina Tar Heels are allowing opponents 65.7 points per game which ranks 32nd in the nation.

Kentucky vs. North Carolina Prediction

North Carolina’s best chance to stay competitive lies in controlling the paint with Wilson and Veesaar, while slowing Kentucky’s pace. The Tar Heels average over 83 points per game and have the size to challenge Kentucky’s frontcourt. If North Carolina can dominate the glass and limit Moreno’s impact, they can keep the margin tight through the first half.

Kentucky, however, thrives in high‑tempo contests and has multiple scoring options across its rotation. Aberdeen’s scoring bursts, Chandler’s perimeter shooting, and Moreno’s rebounding give the Wildcats balance. Their offensive firepower, combined with home‑court advantage, presents  unique challenges to the team’s opponents.

This matchup comes down to Kentucky’s pace against UNC’s interior defense. Expect the Tar Heels to compete early, but Kentucky’s depth and scoring versatility should prove decisive. With Chandler spacing the floor and Moreno anchoring the paint, the Kentucky Wildcats are positioned to cover the 9.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Kentucky Wildcats -7.5