North Carolina vs Syracuse Prediction 2/21/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

Andrew Jett

3 hours ago

Sep 20, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; A Syracuse Orange cheerleader performs prior to a game against the Stanford Cardinal at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

MATCHUP	North Carolina Tar Heels	Syracuse Orange
Team Records	20-6	15-12
Spread	-1.5 -105	+1.5 -115
Moneyline	-120	+100
Total	Over 154.5 (-105)	Under 154.5 (-115)
Where	JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
When	Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time	01:00 PM EST
TV	ABC

The North Carolina Tar Heels and the Syracuse Orange meet Saturday in college basketball action from JMA Wireless Dome. Here’s a North Carolina vs Syracuse prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best North Carolina vs Syracuse pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.

North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview

This year the Tar Heels opened with a nice 13-1 run over their first 14 outings. North Carolina would lose to SMU, Stanford and California over the next four games, but then got back to it with wins over Notre Dame, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Duke from there. After another loss to Miami, the Tar Heels took out Pittsburgh. That would give the team a 20-5 run through the first 25 games.

In the NC State matchup on Tuesday the Tar Heels were destroyed in the first half by a margin of 42-26. North Carolina didn’t get any better from there on a 40-32 second half and limped to an ugly upset loss on the road 82-58. Zayden High doubled up with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Jarin Stevenson added 13 points and nine boards as the only other team player in double-figures.

Syracuse Orange Betting Preview

Over on the Syracuse side, they were looking pretty good in mid-January with a 12-5 overall record in their first 17 outings. Losses to Boston College, Virginia Tech, Miami, NC State, North Carolina and Virginia came in the next seven games, though. after two more wins over California and SMU, the Orange lost to Duke. That gives the team a 15-12 overall run so far this year.

Matched up against Duke on Monday the Orange were in trouble at halftime trailing 40-24. The second half didn’t get any better for Syracuse, as they were blasted 61-40 in an eventual blowout loss on the road 101-64. William Kyle led the team in the losing effort with 12 points and three boards while Nate Kingz added 10 options with two rebounds and one assist.

North Carolina Tar Heels @ Syracuse Orange Betting Trends: February 21, 2026

Why the Syracuse Orange will win

The home team has won each of Syracuse’s last seven games.
North Carolina has lost three of its last four February road games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.
The home team has won the first half in each of North Carolina’s last three games.

Why the North Carolina Tar Heels will win

North Carolina has won each of its last 11 February day games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.
Syracuse has lost 12 of its last 13 day games against AP-ranked opponents.
North Carolina has won the first half in seven of its last eight February day games as an AP-ranked team.

Total Points Facts

Seven of Syracuse’s last eight games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 156+ points.
Each of North Carolina’s last four games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 144 or fewer points.

North Carolina vs Syracuse Prediction

I’m going to stay with North Carolina. The Tar Heels really need a good showing here after an ugly loss to rival NC State in a road matchup this week, though. UNC posted just 31.7 percent shooting from the floor in that one and 15.2 percent (5-of-33) from 3-point range. The Tar Heels added a 40-28 deficit on points in the paint and had 12 turnovers along the way. North Carolina has lost two of their last three games (both on the road), scoring fewer than 67 points in both defeats.

Back on February 2 when these teams last met, the Tar Heels secured an 87-77 victory at home. North Carolina shot well in that one on 48.2 percent from the field while adding a 37-28 rebounding advantage. Syracuse didn’t play too badly though, and it would have been closer with a few more made free throws and a better performance on the boards. I like this one to be fairly competitive with UNC pulling away at the end for a cover.