North Carolina vs Pittsburgh Prediction 2/8/25 College Basketball Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a North Carolina vs Pittsburgh prediction for this College Basketball game on Saturday, February 8th at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this College Basketball matchup.

North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 13-10 (6-5) this season after they lost to Duke by a score of 87-70 in their last game. North Carolina trailed 47-25 at halftime, but they did score 45 points in the second half in the loss. The Tar Heels shot 47.3% from the field, 36.8% on three pointers, and 78.6% on free throws in the game. RJ Davis led UNC with 12 points and five rebounds, while Drake Powell added 12 points and one rebound in the game. 

Prior to that loss, the Tar Heels lost to Pittsburgh by a score of 73-65, but did beat Boston College by a score of 102-96 before that. North Carolina has lost four of their last five games and they are currently seventh in the ACC standings with a 6-5 record. North Carolina has scored 81.2 points per game and they have allowed 76.7 points against per game, while also averaging 37.5 rebounds and 14.3 assists per game this season. RJ Davis is averaging 17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, while Ian Jackson is averaging 14.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game this year. North Carolina is shooting 46.9% from the field, 74.9% on free throws, and 32.3% on three pointers this season. 

Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 14-8 (5-6) this year after they lost to Virginia by a score of 73-57 in their last game. Pittsburgh trailed 34-19 at halftime and allowed 39 more points in the second half in the loss. The Panthers shot 41.9% from the field, 30% on three pointers, and 71.4% on free throws in the game. Ishmael Leggett led Pittsburgh with 17 points and six rebounds, while Jorge Diaz Graham added nine points and four rebounds in the loss. 

Prior to that game, the Panthers lost to Wake Forest by a score of 76-74, but did beat North Carolina by a score of 73-65 before that. Pittsburgh has lost six of their last eight games and they are currently eighth in the ACC standings with a 5-6 record. Pittsburgh has scored 78.5 points per game and they have allowed 71 points against per game, while also averaging 33.5 rebounds and 13.6 assists per game this season. Jaland Lowe is averaging 17.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, while Ishmael Leggett is averaging 16.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game this year. Pittsburgh is shooting 46.7% from the field, 79.3% on free throws, and 35.5% on three pointers this season. 

Why North Carolina will beat Pittsburgh

• North Carolina has won 21 of its last 22 day games at Dean E. Smith Center.
• Pittsburgh has lost six of its last eight games.
• North Carolina has won the first half in each of its last 10 games at Dean E. Smith Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• North Carolina ranks 30th among Division 1 teams for pace this season (71.5).
• North Carolina ranks 36th among Division 1 teams for points per game this season (81.2).
• Pittsburgh ranks 8th among Division 1 teams for free throw percentage this season (79.3%).
• Pittsburgh ranks 19th among Division 1 teams for turnovers per game this season (9.8).

North Carolina vs Pittsburgh Prediction 

Both of these teams come into this matchup struggling over the last few weeks, but North Carolina will have the home court advantage here. The Tar Heels are coming off of a blowout loss to Duke last weekend and they lost to Pitt on the road before that, but they are 5-1 in their last six home games. Pittsburgh hasn’t been any better recently and they just lost a home game to a bad Virginia team and only scored 57 points in the game. These two teams have very similar metrics and while UNC does have major defensive issues, I am still backing them to get the job done at home.