Scott Kinser/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) – Photo by Icon Sport
North Carolina vs Duke: An ACC Classic battle for the top seed in the conference
The Duke Blue Devils are hosting the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC.
The Tar Heels are have won the last five games
The North Carolina Tar Heels are on top of the ACC with a 24-6 record for the season and 16-3 in conference play. Currently, they are on a five-game winning streak and are coming off an 84-51 win over Notre Dame. RJ Davis had another solid game, leading the Tar Heels with 22 points. He is ninth in the NCAA this season, averaging 21.5 points per game. North Carolina is fifth in the nation with 38.5 rebounds per game and is ranked 18th, allowing 40.3% shooting from the field.
The Blue Devils are playing well lately
The Duke Blue Devils are second in the ACC with a 24-6 record, including 15-4 in conference play. They have won the last three games and are coming off a 79-64 win over NC State. Jeremy Roach had one of the best performances this season, recording 21 points and 6 assists in that one. Kyle Filipowski is the best player for Duke this season, averaging 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The Blue Devils are 13th in the nation, shooting 38% from three-point territory, and 22nd with a 48.5 field goal percentage.
Betting Trends
Both teams have won 5 of the last 10 head-to-head games. Duke is 18-11-1 ATS for the season, 11-6-0 ATS at home and 13-10-0 ATS after a win. North Carolina is 17-13-0 ATS for the season, 6-3-0 ATS on the road and 13-10-0 ATS after a win.
Prediction and Conclusion
There is no better way to finish the NCAA basketball regular season than with a matchup between the biggest ACC rivals. To make things even more interesting, this game will decide which team will finish on top of the conference. The Tar Heels won the first game this season 93-84. However, things will look way different in Durham in front of the Blue Devils fans. Duke has been very confident at home, shooting with high percentages, and will take advantage of the situation and win by covering the -4.5-point spread.
