North Carolina vs Elon Prediction 11-4-24 College Basketball Picks

The Elon Phoenix and the UNC Tar Heels meet Monday in college basketball action from the Smith Assembly Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Elon vs. UNC prediction.

Elon Recap

The Elon Phoenix come into the 2024-25 season looking to bounce back from another frustrating season, going 13-19 overall including 6-12 in CAA conference play for their 7^th straight losing season. Luckily the Simpkins twins will be reunited for the Phoenix, with TK Simpkins logging 13.8 PPG and 4.7 RPG with 3.1 APG as well last season while TJ Simpkins transfers in from Northwest Florida State. Nick Dorn and Sam Sherry provide continuity for the Phoenix as well. Billy Taylor showed signs of improvement from year one to year two, and he’s starting to make it his team now. Only time will tell if Elon can continue to show that improvement, and if not, the seat for Taylor may start to get a bit toasty.

Why the Elon Phoenix will win

• Elon has won six of its last seven night games against non-Conference opponents.

UNC Recap

The UNC Tar Heels come into the 2024-25 season looking to build on their bounce back season from 2023-24, where UNC finished 29-8 overall including 17-3 in ACC play to win the regular season title. UNC would take out Florida State and Pitt in the ACC tournament before falling to NC State in the ACC title game. As a 1-seed, UNC would knock off Wagner and Michigan State before falling to Alabama in the sweet sixteen. The Tar Heels will have to manage life inside without Armando Bacot logging double-doubles night after night for the Tar Heels, but retaining national player of the year contender RJ Davis and backcourt running mate Elliot Cadeau is a good place to start. The Tar Heels also got some great transfers in Ven-Allen Lubin from Vanderbilt and Cade Tyson from Belmont, both of whom averaged double-figures in scoring last year. Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are also 5-star recruits brought in by Hubert Davis to make an impact early and often for North Carolina.

Why the North Carolina Tar Heels will win

• North Carolina has won each of its last 17 games against non-Conference opponents at Dean E. Smith Center.
• Elon has lost each of its last four road games against non-Conference opponents.

Elon vs. North Carolina Prediction

I’m on North Carolina here. Elon has taken steps towards improving from last year, but this is a tall task in the opening matchup against a UNC team that’s loaded up offensively and look poised to do damage in the ACC this season. Elon got smacked around in their step up games last year while North Carolina put the boots to lesser teams in their own right and I think UNC handles business here. Give me the Tar Heels in a beatdown.