The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will look to embrace the role of spoiler as they look to snap a two-game series losing streak to the seventh-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in a key ACC matchup on Tuesday. The Fighting Irish (12-17, 7-11 ACC), who haven't won in Chapel Hill, N.C., since 2015, can put a damper on North Carolina's bid for an outright ACC regular-season championship with a win. The Tar Heels (23-6, 15-3), who have won eight of nine all-time meetings against the Irish at North Carolina, can secure at least a share of their 42nd conference championship. This would be their first ACC title since 2018-19.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET at the Dean Smith Center. Notre Dame is averaging 63.6 points per game, while UNC averages 81.4. The Tar Heels are 16-point favorites in the latest Notre Dame vs. North Carolina odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 138. Before making any North Carolina vs. Notre Dame picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 season on a 141-100 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 26-17 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UNC vs. Notre Dame and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Notre Dame vs. UNC:
- North Carolina spread: North Carolina -16
- North Carolina over/under: 138 points
- North Carolina money line: North Carolina -1691, Notre Dame +925
- ND: The Fighting Irish have hit the game total under in 20 of their last 31 games (+8.00 units)
- UNC: The Tar Heels have won 12 of their last 15 games at home (+5.90 units on ML)
- North Carolina vs. Notre Dame picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why North Carolina can cover
Junior forward Harrison Ingram, who is in his first season with the Tar Heels after two years at Stanford, is one of four North Carolina players averaging 10 or more points. In 29 games, all starts, Ingram is averaging 12.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 32.7 minutes. He is also connecting on 44% of his field goals, including 39.5% from 3-point range. He is coming off a 22-point and six-rebound performance in Saturday's win over North Carolina State.
Senior Cormac Ryan, who played the past three years at Notre Dame, will get a chance to match up against his old team. Ryan, who has started 27 of the 28 games he has played in, is averaging 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 29.8 minutes. He scored 18 points in the win at Virginia, and had 16 against Virginia Tech. His most productive game was a 20-point and four-rebound effort in an 87-83 loss to Kentucky on Dec. 16. See which team to pick here.
Why Notre Dame can cover
Freshman guard Markus Burton continues his impressive play for the Fighting Irish. In Saturday's 69-62 win over Clemson, Burton poured in 21 points, while adding six rebounds and four assists. He had 31 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists in a 70-65 victory over Wake Forest on Feb. 27, and in 11 road games this year, he is averaging 16.5 points. For the season, in 29 games, all starts, Burton is averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and two steals in 33.5 minutes.
Another bright spot on offense for Notre Dame has been freshman guard Braeden Shrewsberry, who has played in all 29 games with 11 starts. He has reached double-figure scoring in three out of the last four games, including a 23-point and four-rebound effort in a 72-50 win at Louisville on Feb. 21. He scored a season-high 25 points in a 75-68 overtime win at Georgia Tech on Jan. 9. In 27.7 minutes of action, he is averaging 10 points and 2.5 rebounds. See which team to pick here.
How to make Notre Dame vs. UNC picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 141 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits 60% of the time. You can see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins UNC vs. Notre Dame, and which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets from a model that's 26-17 on top-rated college basketball picks this season, and find out.
