North Carolina has dropped 6 of their last 7 straight up and ATS. Their last 3 losses have been by an average of 22 points per game. North Carolina is 2-10 ATS vs. teams with a winning record this season, 2-9 ATS as an underdog this season and only 2-7 ATS at the Dean Smith Center. They are well below .500 at 6-14 (2-8 in conference play) and more importantly are 3-13 against the number. The obvious lack of talent and experience are one thing, but these numbers indicate another thing altogether. From our vantage point, the Tar Heel players and staff are just going through the motions hoping this season would finally end. All in all, the sum of these parts does not bode well for North Carolina today.
This pick is all about match ups and to put it quite simply, North Carolina does not match up! The Terrapins hung 112 points on North Carolina in that game and ended up winning by 33. Yes 33. Maryland is averaging better than 83 points per game and North Carolina is 0-6 ATS when yielding 80 or more this season. The Terrapins have 2 potential NBA lottery picks in Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon, as well as a proven floor leader in Paul Blake as well.
The Tar Heels allow their opponents to shoot almost 45% from the field and the Terps themselves shoot almost 48%. Look for Juan Dixon to get plenty of looks in this one and Lonny Baxter to have his way with the light Carolina frontline. Maryland is clearly on the ascent, as they have won 4 in a row ATS, 5 in a row straight up and 9 of their last 10 overall. They are averaging nearly 90 points per game in their last 5 and should easily reach that mark against this porous NC defense. Remember, North Carolina is 0-6 ATS when yielding 80 or more this season.
All in all, Maryland is playing better basketball now than they were at the time they beat this same team by 33. The Terrapins have played excellent on the road all year long having beaten the likes of North Carolina St., Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Virginia. They have actually lost only two road games this season and those were at Duke and at Oklahoma. Needless to say, from a competition standpoint Maryland should roll in this spot. Emotionally, they are still in the thick of the conference title hunt and playing at Chapel Hill always brings out the best in a team. Terrapins Cruise! (Is that a paradox?)
Maryland -12
gL
This pick is all about match ups and to put it quite simply, North Carolina does not match up! The Terrapins hung 112 points on North Carolina in that game and ended up winning by 33. Yes 33. Maryland is averaging better than 83 points per game and North Carolina is 0-6 ATS when yielding 80 or more this season. The Terrapins have 2 potential NBA lottery picks in Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon, as well as a proven floor leader in Paul Blake as well.
The Tar Heels allow their opponents to shoot almost 45% from the field and the Terps themselves shoot almost 48%. Look for Juan Dixon to get plenty of looks in this one and Lonny Baxter to have his way with the light Carolina frontline. Maryland is clearly on the ascent, as they have won 4 in a row ATS, 5 in a row straight up and 9 of their last 10 overall. They are averaging nearly 90 points per game in their last 5 and should easily reach that mark against this porous NC defense. Remember, North Carolina is 0-6 ATS when yielding 80 or more this season.
All in all, Maryland is playing better basketball now than they were at the time they beat this same team by 33. The Terrapins have played excellent on the road all year long having beaten the likes of North Carolina St., Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Virginia. They have actually lost only two road games this season and those were at Duke and at Oklahoma. Needless to say, from a competition standpoint Maryland should roll in this spot. Emotionally, they are still in the thick of the conference title hunt and playing at Chapel Hill always brings out the best in a team. Terrapins Cruise! (Is that a paradox?)
Maryland -12
gL
