The #24 Michigan Wolverines (4-2, 0-0 away) and North Carolina Tar Heels (4-2, 3-0 home) wrap up the Big Ten/ACC Challenge with a non-conference showdown on Wednesday night. Both teams have looked shaky during the non-conference portion of the schedule, so Wednesday’s contest will be pivotal for both teams.
Wednesday’s tipoff is at 9:15 p.m. EST inside Dean E. Smith Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. According to the oddsmakers, Michigan is a 1.5-point road favorite, and the over-under total is 148.5 points.
What to Know – Michigan Wolverines
Michigan faces their first road test of the season after an uninspiring 65-54 victory over the Tarleton Texans last Wednesday. The Wolverines’ losses have come to Arizona and Seaton Hall, with Michigan’s best victory coming against UNLV.
Through the first month of action, Michigan is scoring 71.8 points per game while shooting 48.1% from the floor and 29.1% from the arc. Defensively, the Wolverines are allowing 64.5 points per game and holding opponents to 38.8% shooting from the field and 25.4% from three.
Senior guard Eli Brooks paced the Wolverines in scoring in last week’s victory, pouring in 15 points that included knocking down a trio of three-pointers. Freshman forward Caleb Houstan scored 14 points and grabbed ten rebounds to notch the double-double.
The Wolverines are 2-4 against the spread this season, and the total has gone under in five of Michigan’s first six games.
What to Know – North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels aim to stay undefeated at home in their first season since the retirement of Hall of Fame head coach Roy Williams. Former UNC player and assistant coach under Williams, Hubert Davis, is in his first year as the head coach of the Tar Heels. A win over Michigan would give Davis his first career victory over a top-25 opponent.
Offensively, UNC is averaging 83.2 points per game behind an offense that shoots 48.7% from the floor and 41.4% from beyond the arc. The Tar Heels defense is surrendering 78.7 points per contest and allowing opponents to shoot 44.3% from the field and 33.1% from three.
Junior forward Armando Bacot erupted for 22 points in UNC’s 72-53 thumping of in-state UNC-Asheville last Tuesday. Sophomore guard R.J. Davis provided 12 points, and senior guard Leaky Black added nine points and 11 rebounds in the blowout.
North Carolina has been rough against the spread this season with an 0-6 mark. The Tar Heels are 0-3 ATS at home and 0-6 ATS in their last six games against contests against Big Ten opponents.
The Pick is In
North Carolina looked good against an inferior opponent, but how are the Tar Heels going to match up against a solid Big Ten foe. The Tar Heels have struggled on the defensive side of the ball, especially defending in the paint.
Michigan has the big men to attack UNC’s leaky defense and give the Tar Heels fits. UNC’s offense will keep it close, but the Wolverines are the better team here at this point in the season.
Betting Pick: Michigan Wolverines -2
