Ohio State vs North Carolina Odds, Picks & Predictions (Dec 20)

• The Ohio State Buckeyes are 3.5-point underdogs against the North Carolina Tar Heels
• 93% of bettors are wagering on UNC to emerge victorious on the moneyline on Saturday
• See my Ohio State vs North Carolina picks, predictions, and best bets, plus the latest odds and betting splits

A non-conference clash is set for State Farm Arena as the Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2, 4-6 ATS) take on the 12th seeded North Carolina Tar Heels (10-1, 7-4 ATS) in Atlanta, Georgia. Tip-off is set for 3:00 pm ET with a national broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.

UNC is a slim 3.5-point favorite to defeat OSU for the ninth time in their last ten meetings, with the Buckeyes alternating wins and losses in their last four outings.

Ohio State vs North Carolina Picks, Predictions & Best Bets

Game-Total Best Bet: Under 158.5 Total Points (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook

I’m going with the under hitting in this contest. Our SBD model for this battle aligns with that, as it has UNC winning 77.5-76.8 in the Ohio State vs North Carolina odds. That would point to a total of 154 points being scored in this one, which would be under the listed 158.5 total.

In nine of the eleven duels this season for UNC, under 158.5 total points have been scored, and the two times it went over were in two of the first three battles, with under 158.5 points in their last eight skirmishes. Sharps have 45% of the handle on the under points total, with strong defense holding the total lower.

In the NCAA Tournament champion odds, both are longshots to win the March Madness, with UNC +3500 and OSU +10000.

UNC is paced by freshmen Caleb Wilson, who leads the team, averaging 19.5 PPG. He’s been incredibly consistent, scoring between 18-24 points in nine of eleven, putting up 20 in each of the last three contests. He also leads them on the glass, with 10.4 boards per game.

Senior guard Bruce Thornton is the clear breadwinner for OSU, averaging 21.8 PPG, which is eight points more than John Mobley Jr. and Christoph Tilly. Thornton’s 21.8 total has him ranked tenth in the country, where he scored 34 two outings ago vs 13th-ranked Illinois.

Ohio State vs North Carolina Odds

The Ohio State/North Carolina spread ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 in the college basketball odds. On the moneyline, the best UNC price is -175 at Fanatics. The longest odds on an OSU win are +170 at Caesars.

The best ATS price on the Tar Heels is -3.5 (-115) at Sports Interaction, while the most favorable ATS price on the Buckeyes is +4.5 (-110) at Caesars.

The game total still ranges from over 157 (-110) at Fanatics and under 158.5 (-110) at Caesars.

Odds commentary as of 11:30 am ET Dec. 20. The lines in the table will update automatically with the best-available price for each market if the lines before tip-off.

Buckeyes vs Tar Heels Public-Betting Splits

The college basketball public betting splits show a firm stance on this matchup, overwhelmingly siding with North Carolina. An analysis of the splits shows heavy action on the Tar Heels to win outright.

Moneyline: UNC is attracting a staggering 93% of all moneyline bets. More importantly, they account for an even more dominant 98% of the money wagered, indicating that larger, sharper wagers are backing North Carolina to win.

Spread: The public’s faith on the point spread extends to the favorited Tar heels. A strong majority of bettors (73%) are laying the points with North Carolina, along with 77% of ATS handle.

Total: The over/under is seeing more balanced action, but there’s a clear preference for points. The Over is drawing 55% of the bets and 56% of the money, suggesting a public lean towards a higher-scoring game than the 158.5 total.

Buckeyes vs Tar Heels Statistical Breakdown

UNC has had three matches versus ranked teams, winning a pair of them by scores of 67-64 over 18th ranked Kentucky and 87-74 over #19 Kansas. The lone loss in their 10-1 campaign was 74-58 against 11th-ranked Michigan State. The Buckeyes dropped their only battle against a ranked opponent, 88-80 to 13th-ranked Illinois two duels ago.

Sign Up for SBD’s Newsletter Now

Did you want the latest sports betting news, analysis, picks, betting trends, and relevant data straight to your inbox? If so, you’ll want to subscribe to SBD’s newsletter now!