The #11 Florida State Seminoles (14-3, 10-2 ACC) take on the North Carolina Tar Heels (14-8, 8-5 ACC) Saturday afternoon in conference play. FSU dropped the Tar Heels in their first meeting this season, winning 82-75 at home in mid-January. Saturday’s tipoff is at 4 p.m. EST inside the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. Florida State is a 2-point road favorite in the conference clash, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Florida State Seminoles
Florida State enters the weekend on the back end of a three-game road stretch that included two conference victories over Pittsburgh and Miami. The Seminoles have only played four games this month but are a perfect 4-0 in those matchups. FSU owns a half-game lead over Virginia in the ACC standings.
FSU’s 79.8 points per game rank highest in the ACC, and their 47.6% field goal percentage and 39.1% three-point percentage both rank second. Defensively, the Seminoles surrender 69.2 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 40.2% from the field and 34.3% from three.
Wednesday’s 88-71 victory over in-state rival Miami propelled by a 53.6% shooting effort from the floor. Four players scored in double figures, led by guard Sardaar Calhoun with 16 points. Calhoun came off the bench to shoot 7-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-4 from three. Forward RaiQuan Gray added his third double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
FSU is 10-6-1 against the spread this year, including a 7-2-1 record over their last ten games. The Seminoles have struggled ATS against UNC, going 2-8-1 in the previous 11 matchups.
What to Know – North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina will try and bounce back after suffering a 13-point non-conference defeat to Marquette on Wednesday night. UNC is 3-3 in games played this month, including 2-2 in conference play. The Tar Heels are in a four-way tie for fourth place in the conference standings.
The Tar Heels are fifth in the league scoring 74.2 points per game. North Carolina shoots 44.3% from the field and 31.5% from beyond the arc. UNC allows opponents to score 69.4 points per game on 42.6% shoot from the floor and 35.6% from three.
In the loss to the Golden Eagles, the Tar Heels allowed Marquette to shoot 51.8% from the field on their way to a 13-point victory. Forward Garrison Brooks poured in a team-high 18 points, shooting 8-of-10 from the field. A pair of reserves, guard R.J. Davis (11 points) and forward Walker Kessler (10 points), came off the bench to chip in double figures for UNC.
UNC 9-12-1 ATS this season with a 5-8 mark against ACC foes. North Carolina is 5-4 ATS in home games and 1-4 as an underdog.
The Pick is In
Florida State’s depth and athleticism will pose problems for UNC’s defense that ranks ninth in the league in conference-only games. A lack of fans does the Tar Heels no favors at home, where they are 18-4 in the series history inside the Smith Center. FSU continues to impress in this one.
The Pick: Florida State -2
