Back Tar Heels To Cover Against Clemson

Clemson vs. North Carolina, 7:00 ET

We've won three straight college basketball games, and while that might not seem all that substantial, it obviously is nicer than losing three straight. Saturday is always one of the biggest days of the college basketball week, but Tuesday typically has some really good matchups. As we go for four wins in a row, I am looking at a full day of basketball and trying to pick out the best play and I think I've found it. Tonight, I have a look in another ACC game on a team that has been printing money for us this year. We are going to put a play on the game between Clemson and North Carolina. 

Clemson is having a decent enough season, but has really struggled in the conference play. They are sitting at 14-7 overall, and is at just 4-6 in the conference. After starting the season 9-0, they lost a close game to Memphis on the road. They fell 79-77 in that one. They grabbed another couple of wins against inferior opponents before they really started having to manage the ACC portion of the schedule. Clemson went on the road and lost to Miami by 13. Then they took on North Carolina, the team they play tonight, only this was a home game for Clemson. In that contest, they lost by ten, but it was at least respectable because they held the Tar Heels to just 65 points. The problem is they could only muster 55 points against a team that isn't really known for defense. Virginia Tech was their next opponent and they dropped that one by seventeen, also a road game. Since that game, they've gone 3-3 in their past six games, alternating wins and losses. To their credit, their past three losses saw them lose by a combined five points. They dropped a double overtime game to Georgia Tech, a one-point loss at Duke, and a one-point loss to Virginia. Clemson actually matches up fairly well with North Carolina because they have the big men that can battle with the front court of the Tar Heels. They also have some guards that can balance with the scoring of RJ Davis. The problem is that they don't really create turnovers and that means North Carolina should run an effective offense. 

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 04: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels moves the ball against Ryan Young #15 of the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 04, 2023 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The Tar Heels are coming off what most would consider their biggest game of the year. Any time they host their arch-rival Duke, you know there will be a little extra motivation on both sides. We saw them probably look ahead and lose to Georgia Tech right before that game. This was just their fourth loss of the season, and they have now lost three of their games by a combined seven points. The other loss was an 11-point game to UConn. We know what North Carolina is going to look to do. Armando Bacot will be a handful for the opponent on both the glass and offensively. Harrison Ingram is essentially the same description as he continues to collect rebounds and keep plays alive. The team will rely on RJ Davis to put the ball in the basket as one of the better shooters in college. He currently sits with 44.5% from the field, 41.1% from deep, and 91.6% from the free throw line. I wouldn't exactly call the Tar Heels hounds on defense, but they are a good team and they find ways to pester the opponent into bad decisions. It also seems like they can lock into the defensive end of the game when needed. Being at home should also provide a bit of additional comfort for the Tar Heels. There is no need to look ahead in the schedule and overlook a feisty Clemson team either. 

I am a bit surprised the line is just 7.5 for this game considering that North Carolina won by 10 on the road last time. I think it should be a bit higher and I feel like we are getting some value here on this number. To Clemson's credit, they've gone on the road and played significantly better than the majority of college teams. So, there is a chance that they can continue their run of success as road warriors, but this North Carolina team is very talented and seems to have their sights set on getting to that National Championship game. I'll take the Tar Heels to cover the -7.5 spread tonight. 

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on Twitter: @futureprez2024