Michigan State Spartans (20-14) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (28-7)
As March Madness heats up, the Michigan State Spartans face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels in a highly anticipated Round 2 clash. The Spartans, with a 20-14 record, look to upset the Tar Heels, who boast an impressive 28-7 standing. This matchup, set for Saturday, promises to be a cornerstone for top online betting enthusiasts. The game is a pivotal moment in NCAA Men’s Basketball, pitting two powerhouse programs against each other.
The Spartans have had a mixed bag of a season with flashes of brilliance, especially in their ability to compete against the best. On average, with 73.1 points and 46.1% field goals, Michigan State spreads its efficiency throughout the game. While they get 7.2 steals and 3.9 blocks on average, they display their skills at guarding other teams. Nevertheless, their road game record to the spread (5-7) shows their vulnerability in keeping the consistency away from the home.
On the other side, the North Carolina Tar Heels have been great, scoring on average 81.5 points per game with 44.9% accuracy from the field. The power of this team is in their rebounding that is 41.1 on average, and they convert from the free throw line at 75.4%. The Tar Heels have demonstrated their strength on the road this season by going 10-6 against the spread when playing away, which further solidifies the fact that they can perform in pressure situations.
Michigan State Spartans vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Game Info
| When: | Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 5:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Spectrum Center |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Tyson Walker (Guard) vs. RJ Davis (Guard)
Tyson Walker, the Spartans guard for the last 32 games, has shown all the qualities of a leader with an average of 18.2 points. His 44.2% shooting inside the field goal area with 37.3% accuracy away from the arc makes him a double trouble. While Walker is bound to make some impact, his performance in the biggest games will ultimately be a defining factor in light of his responsibilities on both sides of the court.
RJ Davis is Tarheels’ key player who doesn’t shy away from 21.4 points per game over 34 appearances. He is ranked third in the league, shooting 40.6% from the three-point line and 87.3% from the free-throw line, this showcases the variety with which he can score. Davis’s talent to excel under tremendous difficulty is worth mentioning. This will be a major factor especially when we face the Spartans defense when they aim to disrupt our opponents.
During the game between these two teams, we will witness a rivalry of shooting accuracy vs. tailing technique. By bringing Walker’s defensive skills in Davis’ containment, this could be key in defense. Davis’s scoring ability on the other hand is going to test the Spartans’ defense at every corner.
NCAAB Odds/Point Spread: North Carolina Tar Heels -185, Total Odds: 139.5
The betting odds favor the Tar Heels with a -4 point spread, reflecting their stronger season performance and higher scoring average. The total set at 139.5 points suggests a moderately high-scoring affair, aligning with both teams’ offensive capabilities.
Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends
Spartans have demonstrated grit but that road blunders, especially against the spread, might be the cause of surprise. Their ability to go OVER the total points could be due their offensive capability while they’ve shown the vulnerability at the defensive end.
North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends
The betting trends of the Tar Heels highlight their excellence, both in winning the game straight up and in covering the spread, especially away from home. They usually OVER in total points that highlights their offensive capability and it can play a big part in this game.
Michigan State Spartans vs. North Carolina Tar Heels 3/23/24 Betting Picks
The North Carolina Tar Heels seem to be the better team in this matchup because of their offensive might, their spotless away game cover record, and their proper home preparation. The Spartans must be adept at applying the defensive techniques if they are to challenge the offensive power of the Tar Heels.
Given the betting trends and team performances, it seems that Tar Heels are the more appropriate pick. However, the Tar Heels’ knack for covering spreads in high-pressure situations further supports them as the better pick. The over/under prediction is a more difficult one to make. Since both of these teams are scoring machines, the OVER could be a good option on 139.5 points. Within daily March Madness picks, determining the dynamics of the game and updates of the pertinent injuries are the main considerations.
