Virginia vs North Carolina Prediction 1/24/26 College Basketball Picks Today

The North Carolina Tar Heels and Virginia Cavaliers meet Saturday in the college basketball action at the John Paul Jones Arena. Here’s a Virginia vs North Carolina Prediction. This article will include a Virginia vs North Carolina Pick.

North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview

The North Carolina Tar Heels lost to Cal, beat Notre Dame, and they play Georgia Tech next. North Carolina has split its last 6 games.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are averaging 87 points on 48.2 percent shooting and allowing 73.4 points on 39.6 percent shooting. Caleb Wilson is averaging 19.8 points and 10.4 rebounds, while Henri Veesaar is averaging 17.1 points and 9.2 rebounds. Seth Trimble is the third double-digit scorer and Luka Bogavac is grabbing 2.9 rebounds. The North Carolina Tar Heels are shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the arc and 67.5 percent from the free throw line. The North Carolina Tar Heels are allowing 33.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 39.4 rebounds per game.

Virginia Cavaliers Betting Preview

The Virginia Cavaliers beat Louisville and SMU, and they play Notre Dame next. Virginia has won 5 straight games.

The Virginia Cavaliers are averaging 88.9 points on 47.4 percent shooting and allowing 71.1 points on 38.1 percent shooting. Thijs De Ridder is averaging 16.1 points and 6.2 rebounds, while Malik Thomas is averaging 13.6 points and 1.9 assists. Chance Mallory is the third double-digit scorer and Jacari White is grabbing 2.5 rebounds. The Virginia Cavaliers are shooting 37.1 percent from beyond the arc and 70 percent from the free throw line. The Virginia Cavaliers are allowing 28.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 40.6 rebounds per game.

Why the Virginia Cavaliers will win

• Virginia has won each of its last 19 January home games as a top-15 AP-ranked team.
• North Carolina has lost each of its last six games against AP-ranked opponents at John Paul Jones Arena.
• Virginia has won the first half in each of its last 12 games.

Why the North Carolina Tar Heels will win

• Virginia has lost nine of its last 10 games against AP-ranked opponents.
• North Carolina has won 19 of its last 22 day games against Conference opponents.
• Virginia has lost the first half in each of its last four day games as an AP-ranked team against an AP-ranked team.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Virginia’s last 64 games against Conference opponents at John Paul Jones Arena have produced a total of 149 or fewer points.
• Each of North Carolina’s last six games at John Paul Jones Arena have produced a total of 123 or fewer points.

Virginia vs North Carolina Prediction

Virginia has been on a tear lately and is going to be favored at home where it’s undefeated. UNC has had issues on the road and is coming off bizarre losses to Cal and Stanford. With all of that said, North Carolina is far and away more talented than what it’s shown lately, and it feels like oddsmakers have forgotten that. If North Carolina plays to its potential, it can win this game outright. It feels like the last week or so, some are writing off the Tar Heels. Not so fast my friends. I’ll grab the points with North Carolina in what could be a tight ACC clash until the last two minutes.