Two historic programs collide on Saturday night with a trip to the men's title game on the line. The No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (32-6) face off against the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels (28-9) in the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Both squads roll into this contest on matching four-game winning streaks. Duke will have extra motivation with coach Mike Krzyzewski potentially leading them out for the final time.
Tipoff is at 8:49 p.m. ET from New Orleans. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Blue Devils as four-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. Duke odds in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The over-under for total points is set at 153. Before making any Duke vs. North Carolina picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $1,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Duke vs. UNC and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the Final Four 2022. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model's college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for UNC vs. Duke:
- Duke vs. North Carolina spread: Blue Devils -4
- Duke vs. North Carolina over-under: 153 points
- Duke vs. North Carolina money line: Tar Heels +170, Blue Devils -200
- UNC: The Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall
- DUKE: The over is 7-1 in Blue Devils' last eight games following a straight-up win
Why Duke can cover
Duke's offense is extremely athletic and versatile as it has scored at least 78 points in all four tournament games thus far. It is filled with plenty of capable scorers and that was on full display in the win over Arkansas in the Elite 8. The Blue Devils shot 54 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three.
Duke had four players score in double figures and it feasted in the paint, finishing with 46 points down low. Sophomore center Mark Williams was a big reason for that, recording 12 points, 12 rebounds, and shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field. Freshman forward Paolo Banchero added 16 points and seven rebounds while AJ Griffin led the way with 18 points, three rebounds, and went 2-for-3 from three. Duke's offense has many different playmakers and it will look to continue its stellar play in this battle.
Why North Carolina can cover
In the Elite Eight win over St. Peter's, the Tar Heels played stifling defense throughout. The Peacocks couldn't find a rhythm all matchup, only scoring 19 first-half points. North Carolina forced Saint Peter's to shoot a measly 30 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels were aggressive all game long, constantly attacking the paint.
They finished with 34 points in the paint and junior forward Armando Bacot played a monster role. Bacot bullied defenders down low, finishing with 20 points and 22 rebounds. Sophomore guard Caleb Love has a downhill play style and that was showcased. Love used his quickness to get to the rim, dropping 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
How to make UNC vs. Duke picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 150 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Duke vs. North Carolina? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
