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The NCAA Tournament is the single greatest betting event perennially. With the thrills, chills and heavy favorite spills, the Madness always delivers. Here are quick thoughts and the lean on North Carolina vs. Ole Miss in the first round of the South Region.
No. 11 North Carolina (23-13) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (22-11)
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
The pick — North Carolina -1.5 (-110, BetMGM)
After I fired up the old geek machine while sipping an espresso Wednesday morning, surly Carolina fans flooded my X feed to clap back about why their beloved Tar Heels most definitely belonged in the NCAA Tournament.
The resume was still lousy compared to West Virginia and Indiana, but this non-believer also backed Michael Jordan U at -4.5 against San Diego State. Back off, haters.
UNC is in position to win another game. Since the First Four’s debut in 2011, a Dayton-slotted team has failed to advance another line only once.
The Heels match up beautifully with Ole Miss. They have the frontcourt athletes and veteran guards to tie widely perceived basketball genius Chris Beard in knots.
As witnessed in its 95-68 annihilation of the Aztecs on Tuesday, North Carolina is capable of volcanic eruptions on offense. RJ Davis and friends rank No. 11 in adjusted offensive efficiency (1.272 points per possession) since February 10, shooting 53.9% on 2-pointers and a stupid 42.5% on 3s.
Over the same stretch, the Rebels are not even in the same zip code on either front. In their nine-game span, they're a dismal No. 275 in effective field goal percentage offense and No. 335 in effective field goal percentage defense. Ewww.
Most alarmingly, Jaemyn Brakefield and cohorts are outmatched inside. They’ve given up a massive 57.5% shooting on 2s and rank 260th or worse in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage. UNC's Ven-Allen Lubin, Ian Jackson and Jalen Washington should have a day Friday.
The light number is tasty.
Season record: 26-23, +2.42