Syracuse is the Cinderella this season, but if they don’t want the clock to hit midnight in the Final Four they will need to reverse history. The Orange faceoff against their ACC rivals in North Carolina in Houston Saturday, a team they have gone 0-3 SU against since the start of 2014. Despite being sizable dogs in each of those three affairs, Syracuse is 1-1-1 ATS and has an average scoring margin of -8 points against UNC, so they are able to keep it tight.
- UNC is 6-0 SU in their past six games against the ACC.
- Syracuse is 5-0 ATS in their past five games.
- UNC is 2-4 SU and ATS in the Final Four since the 1996.
In the two games the Tar Heels and Orange faced one another this season it was the depth of UNC that ultimately made the biggest difference. UNC’s bench outscored their Syracuse counterparts 82-18 in those two contests.
Syracuse’s trip to the Final Four is mind-boggling. The Orange made it through the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament without facing a seed higher than seventh and was given little chance to get past No.1 seeded Virginia. But a ridiculous second-half comeback/implosion by Virginia has Syracuse travelling to Houston. It was freshman Malachi Richardson who came up big in the Elite Eight as the Trenton, New Jersey-native scored a game-high 23 points.
Ultimately, UNC has yet to face much of a challenge so far in March Madness. The Tar Heels have won six of their eight games in the month of March by double-digits while posting an average winning percentage of +16.0 points through the tourney so far. Brice Johnson continues to be a legitimate Most Outstanding Player recipient with the senior averaging 21 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 63 percent from the floor.
Syracuse Orange vs North Carolina Tar Heels Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The North Carolina Tar Heels are 32-6 so far on the season, and 18-18-2 ATS vs the number. The Syracuse Orange, meanwhile, are 23-13 and 20-15 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen North Carolina go 20-18 and the Syracuse Orange go 18-17 on betting totals.
The Tar Heels - Orange odds would favor the Tar Heels if the lines were set according to our power ranks. North Carolina is rated No. 14 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Syracuse is at No. 153.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits North Carolina's No. 9-ranked offense, averaging 83 PPG, against a Orange defense that ranks No. 23 at 64.61 PPG. The Tar Heels field goal percentage has averaged 48.21% so far, more than the Orange marksmen have achieved on the year, 42.51% per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Orange got 23 points from Malachi Richardson as Syracuse ran past Virginia 68-62 on Sunday at United Center.
The Tar Heels got a 25-point performance from Brice Johnson, who added 25 rebounds, as North Carolina ran past Notre Dame 88-74 on Sunday at Wells Fargo Center.
