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UNLV vs North Carolina Odds, Lines and Spread

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in College Basketball

Updated Nov 29, 2020 · 6:46 PM PST

Caleb Love, UNC Guard
North Carolina guard Caleb Love (2) dribbles during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against College of Charleston in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
  • UNC Tar Heels begin their bid for a fifth all-time Maui Invitational tournament title when they face UNLV on Monday as heavy 12.5-point favorites
  • North Carolina is coming off a decisive season-opening win over Charleston, while the Rebels suffered a devastating upset loss to Montana State in last week’s home opener
  • We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Monday night’s matchup at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, NC

The North Carolina Tar Heels aim to build on a 79-60 season-opening win over College of Charleston when they take on the UNLV Rebels on the first day of the Maui Invitational tournament. The Tar Heels are lofty 12.5-point favorites in the NCAA basketball odds.

The Rebels make the trip to Asheville, North Carolina for Monday night’s matchup at Harrah’s Cherokee Center on the rebound. UNLV dropped a 91-78 decision to the Montana State Bobcats in their home opener last Wednesday night. And while UNLV has high hopes entering the new campaign after being predicted to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference, they face a daunting test against a Tar Heels squad with a lot to prove after recording their first losing season in almost two decades in 2019/2020.

UNLV vs North Carolina Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
UNLV Rebels +12.5 (-110) +730 O 151.5 (-110)
North Carolina Tar Heels -12.5 (-110) -1150 U 151.5 (-110)

*Odds taken at FanDuel on 11/29/2020.

Youngsters Power Tar Heels Resurgence

The Tar Heels have their sights set on a fast start to the new campaign after enduring a forgettable 2019/2020 season.

Devastated by injuries that sidelined the likes of Sterling Manley, Anthony Harris, and Jeremiah Francis for extended periods, UNC stumbled to a dismal 14-19 record, including just six wins in conference play. However, an offseason overhaul saw two players transfer, three players graduate, and leading scorer Cole Anthony enter the NBA Draft.

But the arrival of a number of top recruits that has helped lift this team to No. 16 on the AP Top 25 preseason rankings.

As expected, the kids led the way in the Tar Heels’ season-opening victory over the Cougars. Freshman guard Caleb Love scored a game-high 17 points, and another freshman Day’Ron Sharpe recorded a double-double in his collegiate debut, with 13 points and 10 assists.

In addition to the young Tar Heels demonstrating instant chemistry in last week’s victory, the squad should benefit from playing close to home at this year’s edition of the Maui Invitational, which was relocated to nearby Asheville out of an abundance of caution as the sports world continues to struggle with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Success in Maui Bodes Well for UNC

Regular participants in this tournament, the Tar Heels have won the Maui Invitational champions on four occasions. More important, UNC has followed up its past three tournament title wins with a national championship victory. To maintain that trend, UNC will have to overcome its recent shaky performance in November games played at neutral sites, going 3-3 SU in their past six.

The Tar Heels have been historically steady performers when facing the Rebels, winning outright in four of five all-time meetings. However, those matchups have typically been close affairs, with three of UNC’s four wins coming by six or fewer points, capped by a 79-73 win at Dean Smith Center, back in 2012.

Rebels Try to Avoid Another Slow Start

Like the Tar Heels, UNLV endured a difficult 2019/2020 season that started on a dismal 4-8 SU run, and needed a 5-1 SU run down the stretch to claim fourth place in the MWC standings, and a 17-15 overall record. Last season’s slow start defied the Rebels’ typically steady performance in November. UNLV racked up an impressive 25-7 SU in their previous 32 November dates, to go along with an 11-2 SU run in 13 November neutral site contests.

But overcoming last week’s loss to the Bobcats will be a massive challenge. Apart from junior guard Bryce Hamilton, the Rebels were simply outclassed while pegged as heavy 12-point chalk. Hamilton tallied a game-high 27 points, providing the only bright spot for a UNLV squad that went a dismal 25-for-55 from the floor on the night.

The Picks: Tar Heels -12.5 (-110); UNDER 151.5 (-110)

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