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Duke vs. North Carolina prediction: College basketball picks, odds, best bet Saturday

duke-vs.-north-carolina-prediction:-college-basketball-picks,-odds,-best-bet-saturday
Duke vs. North Carolina prediction: College basketball picks, odds, best bet Saturday
Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) looking on against the Stanford Cardinal.
Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) looks on against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

With so many eyes on Super Bowl Sunday, college basketball will feature numerous rivalry games that will draw plenty of betting interest.

Perhaps no sports rivalry is bigger than Duke and North Carolina, who will meet for a record 83rd time when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25.

The Blue Devils are 5.5-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook with a total of 151.5 points.

The Blue Devils are 21-1 and somehow flying a bit under the radar, despite wins over Florida, Michigan State and Kansas. They’re also 13-9 against the spread (ATS) this season.

Meanwhile, UNC has turned things around, winning four straight after a 1-3 stretch.

But I am still skeptical of the Tar Heels. They played incredibly well in the second half at Virginia to pull off an upset win but they have predominantly underdelivered in tough situations.

Caleb Wilson #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Caleb Wilson #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Getty Images

Laying points on the road in a rivalry game typically does not translate to sustained success, but this matchup still favors Duke.


Betting on College Basketball?


The Blue Devils are 5-1 ATS as a road favorite and fit the profile of a team looking to bury a good opponent.

I have a 94-80-2 ATS record in this Post sports section, and my next play is on Duke to cover the 5.5 points at UNC.

The Pick: Duke -5.5 (-105, DraftKings)


Why Trust New York Post Betting

Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.

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