The Northern Iowa Panthers and North Carolina Tar Heels face off on Wednesday in a college basketball showdown at Imperial Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a Northern Iowa Panthers vs North Carolina Tar Heels prediction.

Northern Iowa Needs Defense to Step Up

Northern Iowa comes into this game with a 1-2 record and in the two losses, the defense wasn’t good enough. Against North Texas the defense gave up 83 points while against South Florida they gave up 74 points. Northern Iowa scored only 65 points against South Florida. Jacob Hutson was the top player putting up 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Northern Iowa is averaging 77.3 points, while their defense is giving up 69 points per game. Nate Heise is averaging 14.3 points while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. 

CHECK OUT MORE COLLEGE BASKETBALL PICKS HERE!!!

North Carolina Needs to Dominate

This is really a game that North Carolina should dominate and they can’t take this game for granted. In the last game against UC Riverside, North Carolina gave up only 52 points and they ended up winning by 25 points. Armando Bacot had another strong game putting up 21 points, seven rebounds, and one assist. North Carolina on the season is averaging 84.3 points while their defense is giving up 63.3 points per game. The offense is ranked 49th in the league and they are going to need the offense to run up the score here. Bacot is averaging 22.7 points while shooting 61 percent from the field.

Shane’s Free Pick

North Carolina’s defense was elite in the last game. North Carolina gave up only 52 points in the last, and they are going to lockdown Northern Iowa here. Bacot is going to have a big game as Northern Iowa doesn’t have anyone to slow him down. North Carolina is averaging 84.3 points per game and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. Back North Carolina against the spread.