The North Carolina Tar Heels will take on the Citadel Bulldogs in a non-conference college basketball matchup on Tuesday (December 13).
The Tar Heels are 6-4 for the season and will hope to get some wins to boost their chances in the ACC. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have a 5-4 record and are expected to finish in the middle of the Southern Conference standings.
They lost to the Charleston Cougars in their last game and failed to cover the spread as underdogs. The Tar Heels, meanwhile, beat the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in their last game and covered the spread as 13.5-point favorites.
North Carolina vs Citadel Betting Odds
$1,000 No Sweat First Bet with FanDuel Sportsbook
North Carolina vs Citadel Match Details
Fixture: Citadel Bulldogs at North Carolina Tar Heels
Date and Time: Tuesday, December 13; 7:00 pm ET
Venue: Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
North Carolina vs Citadel Key Stats
A victory over a team from a major conference would be the Bulldogs' first this season. Among the most difficult opponents they have faced are Clemson and Butler. Their two-game winning streak was snapped in their previous game against Charleston at home, which ended in a humiliating 79-57 loss. For the loss, they had 13-point dogs.
In terms of efficiency, the Bulldogs are ranked 275th. They're 2-2 on the road this year after winning two straight games. They score 71.1 points per game on average, which ranks 206th in the nation. The Bulldogs excel most in defense. They rank 237th among collegiate basketball programmes in terms of points allowed, giving up an average of 70.8.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, overcame Georgia Tech at home on Saturday, winning 75-59 easily to cover the 13.5-point spread and snapping a startling four-game losing streak. The Tar Heels have suffered four losses in their last five games, including an overtime loss to Alabama, all to opponents from major conferences.
That losing streak caused the Tar Heels to fall out of the AP Top 25 last week, and they're now 25th in the efficiency rankings. This season, they're unblemished at home, going 5-0.
Their 70th-place finish is based on their average score of 79 points. They rank 308th in the nation due to their defense, which has been a major issue, giving up an average of 74.3 points.
North Carolina vs Citadel Betting Prediction
The Bulldogs have done a good job of restricting their opponents defensively. They're only letting their opponents fire at a 39.9% clip. Their defense against 3-point shots has been fabulous too.
The significant factor is that opponents are shooting 30.5% from the 3-point range against them, which is crucial, as it's is the Tar Heels' biggest offensive vulnerability. They're making a pitiful 28.8% of their 3-point attempts. Even though the Tar Heels could win this one, this is a massive spread for a team that hasn't played nearly as well as expected.