College Basketball Picks: Duke Blue Devils vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 5-0 straight up and against the spread over their last five games, which is important to consider when making your college basketball picks Wednesday, as they prepare to meet the Duke Blue Devils at the Smith Center.

Sports bettors will find that the Tar Heels are 2.5-point home underdogs in the NCAA basketball odds, with the betting total sitting at 151.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this Atlantic Coast Conference matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

Gambling stats via SBR Forum.

Duke Blue Devils

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The Duke Blue Devils have split their six true road games during the 2013-14 campaign, as they come off a 89-68 blowout victory over the Boston College Eagles last Saturday.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Blue Devils are 1-2 straight up and against the spread as road favorites of three or fewer points.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Jason Getz/Associated Press

The North Carolina Tar Heels have dropped seven of their last nine overall meetings against the Duke Blue Devils, including a 69-53 setback as two-point home favorites on March 9 of last season.

College basketball handicappers will find that the Tar Heels are 14-5 against the spread in February since the 2011-12 campaign.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the North Carolina Tar Heels, as they've tallied quality wins over the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals and Michigan State Spartans this season.

College Basketball Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels +2.5

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