#1 North Carolina (28-2) @ #5 Duke (26-3)
This is the second installment this season of one of the best rivalries in any sport at any level. The first showdown was a decisive Duke victory at North Carolina as the Blue Devils beat the Tar Heels 89-78 just over a month ago. As you’re already aware, a lot can change in a month, particularly in college basketball. Since the Duke loss, UNC has won 7 in a row and has earned the #1 ranking in the nation. After beating their talent rivals Duke has managed a 6-2 record, but losses at Wake Forest and Miami were games that the Devils were expected to win. The best angle to look at in this situation is revenge. North Carolina was out-played by Duke in the first meeting, but I’m still of the opinion that they are the more talented squad. Now that North Carolina is the #1 team in the nation I think they have the confidence and swagger it’s going to take to go into Duke and beat them on their home court. Surprisingly, 4 out of the last 5 match ups in this series has been won by the visiting team, a stat that shows the intensity of this rivalry and a stat that gives me all the more confidence in picking North Carolina. One paper the teams match up well, UNC is the more offensive-oriented team with Duke having slightly better defensive stats. The fact is that you can throw all of that out the window tonight because in one of the biggest games of the year in college basketball between the most storied rivalry in the sport, you have to go with momentum and you have to go with motivation. North Carolina Has both tonight.
College Hoops Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels +1
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Related posts:
- Duke at North Carolina Pick – 2/6/2008
- Wednesday NCAA: No. 7 Duke (19-4) at North Carolina (13-10)
- 2008 Final Four Preview – North Carolina/Kansas
- Wednesday NCAA: No. 13 North Carolina at No. 19 Clemson
- Tuesday NIT: North Carolina (19-16) vs. Rhode Island (26-9)
