The SMU Mustangs and the North Carolina Tar Heels meet Tuesday in college basketball action from the Dean E. Smith Assembly Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a North Carolina vs SMU Prediction.
SMU Recap
The SMU Mustangs come into this game looking to bounce back from an 89-62 loss to Duke last time out to fall to 11-3 on the year. After this game, SMU will head home for a date with Georgia Tech.
Mustangs Looking To Rebound
Boopie Miller leads the Mustangs in scoring and assists with 15.8 PPG and 5.9 APG while Chuck Harris has 11.4 PPG and Matt Cross has 10.7 PPG with a team-high 8.2 RPG to lead the Mustangs on the glass and cap off the scoring in double figures up to this point in the year. Karlo Oquendo has 9.8 PPG with 2.9 RPG and B.J. Edwards has 9.6 PPG with 3.8 RPG and 3.4 APG. Samet Yigitoglu has 9.8 PPG with 6.6 RPG and Yohan Traore has 8.7 PPG with 4.8 RPG. As a team, SMU is averaging 85.4 PPG on 48.4% shooting from the field, 38% from three, and 72.7% from the foul line this season.
Why the SMU Mustangs will win
- SMU has won each of its last seven games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- North Carolina has lost four of its last five night games.
North Carolina Recap
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be out to build on a narrow 74-73 win over Notre Dame in their last matchup to improve to 9-6 on the year. After this game, North Carolina will head on the road for a matchup against the NC State Wolfpack.
Tar Heels Looking To Build Momentum
RJ Davis leads the Tar Heels in scoring with 17.7 PPG along with 4 RPG and 4.1 APG while Seth Trimble has 14.8 PPG with 4.3 RPG and Elliot Cadeau has 10.7 PPG with 3.1 RPG and 6.1 APG on the year to lead the Tar Heels in assists. Ian Jackson has 14.9 PPG with 3.4 RPG to round out the group of double-digit scorers for North Carolina so far this season. Jalen Washington also has 6.3 PPG with a team-high 4.9 RPG to lead North Carolina in rebounding up to this point in the season. As a team, North Carolina is averaging 84.6 PPG on 47.4% shooting from the field, 31.4% from three, and 74.7% from the foul line this season.
Why the North Carolina Tar Heels will win
- North Carolina has won each of its last nine games at Dean E. Smith Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of North Carolina’s last 11 games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 163 or fewer points.
- Thirty of SMU’s last 34 night games have produced a total of 166 or fewer points.
North Carolina vs SMU Prediction
I’m going to take a shot at SMU and the points in this one. I still want the Seth Trimble situation cleared up if I’m going to back North Carolina in any way, shape, or form, and he’s still a big loss if he can’t go against an SMU team that’s packing the same punch that the SMU football team did on the gridiron this season. SMU looks like a team that’s relishing their opportunity to play in the SEC and they’re a team I suspect could be a dark horse to make some noise if they get the bounces. I’ll take SMU and the points here.