#9 North Carolina vs #1 Kansas: NCAA Basketball Predictions, Odds & Best Bets

College Basketball sickos… not only is the season back in full swing, we have a couple of Blue Bloods going at it in a historic College Hoops Arena for some Friday Night action. The North Carolina Tar Heels have come all the way to the Midwest to take on the top ranked Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse tonight. It’s always tough to win in Lawrence against the Jayhawks, but can the Tar Heels upset the #1 team in the country on the road?

Both teams secured a win on Monday Night, but North Carolina did show signs of struggle. They didn’t come close to covering against Elon, allowing the Phoenix to shoot over 40% from the field and beyond the arc, however UNC was able to win the turnover battle 16-6. If Elon takes better care of the ball, that game may be a bit closer, so look for Carolina to try and have plenty of takeaways on the road tonight.

As for the Jayhawks, they came out screaming against Howard and never looked back. Kansas showed their depth, with 10 players logging at least 14 minutes on the court, and tonight at home they should be focused on the task at hand. Can North Carolina come into Lawrence and take down the Jayhawks? Or will Kansas send the Tar Heels packing?

#9 North Carolina Tar Heels vs #1 Kansas Jayhawks: Battle of the Blue Bloods

Matchup Information – North Carolina vs Kansas

• Venue & Location: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, KS)
• Date: Friday, November 8th, 2024
• Tip Off: 7:00pm Eastern
• Broadcast: ESPN2

Betting Odds

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Spread

• North Carolina +8 (-105)
• Kansas -8 (-115)

Money Line

• North Carolina +305
• Kansas -375

Total

• Over 160 (-119)
• Under 160 (-101)

Can Tar Heels Take Down Jayhawks on the Road?

Going into Allen Fieldhouse to take down the Jayhawks is never an easy feat. Only a select few teams have been able to do so during the Bill Self Era, as the Jayhawks have more Big 12 regular season titles than losses at Allen under his guidance. Both of these teams came out hot, scoring 45+ points in the first half against their inferior opponents the other night. But will that be the case in this matchup?

While both of these teams like to get up and down in transition, defense will certainly be a factor. As mentioned, North Carolina allowed Elon to shoot lights out. They can’t afford to do the same against the Jayhawks; they’ll be run out of the gym. Instead, I see Carolina focusing on slowing down the home team, and trying to keep the crowd out of it. This could include slowing things down on offense and refusing to give the ball up early.

Kansas certainly showed their depth, and they will have much more of it tonight especially in the front court. Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams start the game, but Freshman Flory Bidunga put in 17 solid minutes on Monday, making all 6 of his shots and leading the Jayhawks with 8 rebounds. Add Zeke Mayo as the leading scorer off the bench, along with AJ Storr as the 7th man, North Carolina will struggle to keep up with all that man power.

North Carolina starts Jalen Washington and Jae’lyn Withers, both just 6’10” and 6’9″, who will have their hands full with 7′ Dickinson and company. I do lean with North Carolina to cover, especially with the spread being past the 3 possession threshold. As for the total, I see the Tar Heels seriously trying to slow the game down, and I could see it staying under with both teams in the 70s. However, I will be putting my coin on a player prop here.

#9 North Carolina Tar Heels vs #1 Kansas Jayhawks Best Bets

North Carolina vs Kansas Prediction: Kansas Wins, North Carolina Covers, Under 160

Best Bets: KJ Adams Over 4.5 Rebounds (-121) BetOnline

KJ Adams lead all KU starters in minutes on Monday against Howard, securing 4 rebounds in just 23 minutes of play. Adams is a guy that knows his role. He’s not the tallest guy on the court, but he is a freak athlete. He’s incredibly strong and can jump out of the gym, and has no problem doing the dirty work for the Jayhawks. Grabbing key boards, setting strong picks, and boxing out the opponent’s big is right up this guy’s alley.

Adams does whatever it takes for the Jayhawks to win, and tonight that will include 5 boards for us. He starts as a small power forward for Kansas, and plays with both Dickinson and 6’9″ Bidunga. His opponent’s have to focus on boxing out the tallest man on the court, leaving the most athletic guy unaccounted for, and he’s always ready to grub on the glass.

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