Florida Gators vs North Carolina Tar Heels NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/17/24

The Gators and Tar Heels are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN. The Tar Heels will host the game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. In this non-conference matchup, Florida is favored by -4 against North Carolina. The over/under for the game is 166.5 points.

FLORIDA GATORS VS NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS BETTING PICK

The Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels +4

This game will be played at Spectrum Center at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, December 17th.

WHY BET THE NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-66 in favor of the Tar Heels.
• Not only will North Carolina pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +4.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 166.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.

Will the Gators Come Through as Road Favorites?

Florida improved to 10-0 on the season with an 83-66 win over Arizona State on Saturday. The Gators, who were favored by seven points, covered the spread at home. The game’s total points of 149 fell short of the 156-point over/under line.

Florida led 41-32 at halftime and continued their strong play in the second half, outscoring the Sun Devils 42-34 to seal the win.

Florida put up 83 points in their last game, shooting 47.8% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.2%. They connected on 59.5% of their two-point attempts and hit 33.3% from beyond the arc, making 10 threes. At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, hitting 9 of 10 attempts.

Walter Clayton Jr. led the way with 25 points, knocking down 5 threes on 13 attempts. Adam Miller added 18 points, shooting 60% from deep. Alijah Martin contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Jayden Quaintance chipped in 14 points and 8 boards.

Florida’s defense gave up 66 points in their last game, with the opponent shooting 47% from the field. They allowed 22 two-point baskets on 37 attempts, a 59% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, the opponent hit 10 of 30 threes, shooting 33%. Florida also sent them to the line 10 times, where they made 9 free throws. The Gators gave up 12 offensive rebounds.

Will the Tar Heels Pull Through as the Home Underdog?

North Carolina improved to 6-4 on the season with a 93-67 win over La Salle on Saturday. The Tar Heels, who were -20.5 favorites, covered the spread at home. The total points for the game were 160, just under the O/U line of 163.5.

UNC took control early, leading 42-25 at halftime. They put up 51 points in the second half while allowing 42, maintaining their dominance throughout the game.

North Carolina’s offense put up 93 points in their last game, shooting 53.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 61.2%. They were dominant inside, hitting 72.2% of their two-point attempts, while connecting on 32.3% from beyond the arc, making 10 threes. Their free-throw shooting was a struggle, hitting just 47.8% from the line.

The Tar Heels dished out 22 assists and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds. Cade Tyson led the way with 23 points in 21 minutes, shooting 64.3% overall and 50% from three (5/10). Demetrius Lilley added 16 points, hitting 4 threes at a 50% clip, while RJ Davis, Deuce Jones, and Eric Acker each contributed 13 points.

North Carolina’s defense gave up 67 points, allowing the opposing team to shoot 53% from the field. Inside the arc, they struggled, with opponents hitting 72% of their two-point attempts (26/36).

From three-point range, the opposition shot 32%, making 10 of 31 attempts. North Carolina also sent them to the line 23 times, where they converted 11 free throws (47%). The Tar Heels gave up 12 offensive rebounds.