The classic matchup between North Carolina and Duke is just one of three Wednesday college basketball betting matchups of top-ranked teams. ESPN will broadcast from Dean E. Smith Center at 9:00 p.m. (ET).
North Carolina is first in the country in scoring (84.1 PPG), while Duke is tied for 11th (79.8 PPG). However, they’re both among several high scoring, major conference teams who have seen their production dip dramatically in the division.
| TEAM |
NON-CONF (ATS) |
IN-CONF (ATS) |
| North Carolina |
88.1 PPG (8-6)
|
76.6 PPG (3-5)
|
| Missouri |
86.2 PPG (5-3)
|
73.8 PPG (5-4-2)
|
| Florida |
85.4 PPG (5-4-1)
|
70.1 PPG (4-4)
|
| Indiana |
84.8 PPG (7-0)
|
72.2 PPG (5-7)
|
| Duke |
82.2 PPG (6-9)
|
75.3 PPG (3-5)
|
The Tar Heels are 20-3 straight up (11-11 ATS). That ranks them fifth in both polls while riding a 5-game winning streak. They haven’t covered the spread in their last three games, including an 83-74 comeback win at Maryland on Saturday as 12-point favorites.
Depth has been an issue since losing guard Dexter Strickland (knee) four games ago for the season. Point guard Kendall Marshall had to play 38 minutes against Maryland and leading scorer Harrison Barnes (17.3 PPG) has a sprained ankle, although is listed as probable.
The No. 9 Blue Devils (19-4 SU, 9-14 ATS) are 6-2 SU in the ACC, which puts them a game back of both North Carolina and Florida State. Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s guys imploded on Sunday, losing 78-74 to Miami in overtime as 12-point home favorites. Duke already lost at home to Florida State (76-73) back on January 21.
Krzyzewski is worried about team leadership and that makes sense with leading scorer Austin Rivers (14.5 PPG) just a freshman. Duke did have a couple of early road losses at Ohio State (85-63) and Temple (78-73), but is 4-0 SU (3-1 ATS) away in the ACC, albeit against pretty easy competition.
North Carolina beat Duke 81-67 as 1½-point home favorites last year. Duke was 3-0 ATS in the prior three in Chapel Hill. The ‘under’ is 6-0 in the last six meetings overall.
No. 11 Georgetown Hoyas at No. 2 Syracuse Orange
7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
The Hoyas (18-4 SU, 10-7 ATS) are having a solid season, especially considering they were predicted to finish in the bottom half of the Big East. They are coming off home wins and covers over Connecticut (58-44) and South Florida (75-45) after starting 2-7 ATS (6-3 SU) in the conference.
Syracuse (23-1 SU, 15-8 ATS) is back to full strength after center Fab Melo (academics) returned to the mix last Saturday at St. John’s. Melo had a career-high 14 points in the 95-70 blowout. The Orange had really struggled to score in the three games without Melo (60.3 PPG), with the ‘under’ 5-0 before going way ‘over’ the 136 points last game.
Coach Jim Boeheim’s team ranks fourth in the Big East in scoring defense (60.8 PPG), with Georgetown leading (58.6 PPG). Syracuse is first in scoring offense (78.1 PPG), while the Hoyas are eighth (71 PPG).
The Hoyas only allow opponents to shoot 27.6 percent from 3-point range and holding down Syracuse’s deep shooters will be key.
Georgetown upset Syracuse in the Carrier Dome last year, 64-56 as 5-point ‘dogs. John Thompson II was 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in his first five games there as Hoyas coach.
No. 10 Kansas Jayhawks at No. 6 Baylor Bears
7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2
This is a huge Big 12 matchup with both teams 8-2 SU in the conference and trailing Missouri (9-2 SU) by a half game.
Kansas (18-5 SU, 11-10-1 ATS) could be in first place in the Big 12, but lost 74-71 at Missouri on Saturday night. That was a ‘push’ as 3-point ‘dogs. Big man Thomas Robinson (25 points) and guard Tyshawn Taylor (21 points) both did their job per usual, but the rest of the team combined for just 25 points.
The Missouri game also ‘pushed’ the 145-point total. The ‘under’ was 9-0 in Kansas’ prior road and neutral site games. The Jayhawks have dropped two straight away, going down at Iowa State (72-64) on Jan. 28 despite being 7-point favorites.
The Bears (21-2 SU, 7-9 ATS) have won four straight after losing at Kansas (92-74) and home to Missouri (89-88). However, they’re still just 1-5 ATS in their last six. Baylor got dominated on the glass against Kansas (36-21) as Robinson and center Jeff Withey combined for 24 boards. These are two of the best rebounding teams in the conference, so there’s no excuse for that disparity.
A return to the Ferrell Center should help the Bears be more aggressive, especially in a revenge scenario. They’re 11-1 SU there on the season, although just 2-3 ATS. The home ATS number in the Big 12 is just 1-3.
Kansas has had success in Waco, 5-0 SU and ATS in the last five meetings. Last year was an 85-65 win as 3½-point favorites.