North Carolina vs Syracuse Prediction 2/2/26 College Basketball Picks Today

The Syracuse Orange and North Carolina Tar Heels meet Monday in the college basketball action at the Dean E. Smith Center. Here’s a North Carolina vs Syracuse Prediction. This article will include a North Carolina vs Syracuse Pick.

Syracuse Orange Betting Preview

The Syracuse Orange beat Notre Dame, lost to NC State, and they play Virginia next. Syracuse has lost 4 of its last 5 games.

The Syracuse Orange are averaging 75.8 points on 47.1 percent shooting and allowing 70 points on 42.2 percent shooting. Donnie Freeman is averaging 18.2 points and 7.3 rebounds, while JJ Starling is averaging 12 points and 2.5 assists. Nate King is the third double-digit scorer and William Kyle III is dishing 1 assist. The Syracuse Orange are shooting 33.7 percent from beyond the arc and 63.1 percent from the free throw line. The Syracuse Orange are allowing 31.6 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31.8 rebounds per game.

North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview

The North Carolina Tar Heels beat Virginia and Georgia Tech, and they play Duke next. North Carolina has won 10 of its last 13 games.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are averaging 83 points on 48.1 percent shooting and allowing 70.3 points on 40.1 percent shooting. Caleb Wilson is averaging 20 points and 9.9 rebounds, while Henri Veesaar is averaging 16.8 points and 9 rebounds. Seth Trimble is the third double-digit scorer and Luka Bogavac is grabbing 2.7 rebounds. The North Carolina Tar Heels are shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the arc and 68.1 percent from the free throw line. The North Carolina Tar Heels are allowing 34.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 36.7 rebounds per game.

Why the North Carolina Tar Heels will win

• North Carolina has won each of its last 18 games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team at Dean E. Smith Center.
• Syracuse has lost 18 of its last 21 games against AP-ranked opponents.
• North Carolina has won the first half in each of its last 25 games at Dean E. Smith Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Syracuse Orange will win

• Syracuse has won nine of its last 11 night games.
• Syracuse has won the first half in 10 of its last 11 night games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of North Carolina’s last seven games have produced a total of 160+ points.
• Fifteen of Syracuse’s last 17 night games have produced a total of 156 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• North Carolina ranks 9th among Division 1 teams for assist to turnover ratio this season (1.82).
• North Carolina ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for turnover percentage this season (11.8%).
• Syracuse ranks 364th among Division 1 teams for free throw percentage this season (63.1%).
• Syracuse ranks 5th among Division 1 teams for blocks per game this season (5.9).

North Carolina vs Syracuse Prediction

Syracuse has had moments this season, but it hasn’t been consistent, and I question if there’s enough firepower to hang in this spot. Syracuse has taken steps back defensively, and those bad losses to Virginia Tech and Boston College don’t help. North Carolina is undefeated at home, has the size to both Syracuse down low, and the Heels have covered 3 straight games. This stretch of games over the last week or so is some of the best ball from North Carolina. The offense is starting to show scary potential. Potential look-ahead spot with Duke coming up, but I’m going to lay the points with UNC anyway.