Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. North Carolina Tar Heels: Odds, Betting Pick

The 21st-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (19-7) will be going for their third straight victory overall and fifth win in a row over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (15-10) on Monday when they host them at the Dean Smith Center as big home favorites.

The Tar Heels beat the North Carolina State Wolfpack 96-89 on Saturday behind 33 points and 17 rebounds from junior Luke Maye.

Point spread: The Tar Heels opened as 10.5-point favorites; the total is at 152.5, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College basketball betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 90.8-67.9, Tar Heels (College basketball picks on every game)

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Why the Fighting Irish can cover the spread

Despite losing the past four meetings with North Carolina, along with seven of 10 in the series, Notre Dame has covered the spread in the last two and six of the previous eight, according to the OddsShark College Basketball Database.

Last season, the two games between the teams were decided by a combined eight points, including an 83-76 loss for the Fighting Irish at Chapel Hill in a similar spot.

Following a seven-game skid, Notre Dame has won two in a row after routing the Florida State Seminoles 84-69 on Saturday behind Matt Farrell's career-high 28 points in his third game back from an ankle injury.

Robert Franklin/Associated Press

Why the Tar Heels can cover the spread

The national champion Tar Heels are peaking at the right time with March Madness just around the corner, avoiding a letdown against NC State by covering the spread as a four-point road favorite after they defeated Duke last Thursday.

North Carolina plays three of its last four regular-season games on the road following this home matchup with Notre Dame, and all of them the rest of the way will be televised nationally on ESPN.

That said, the Tar Heels seem to be at their best when playing in the spotlight, and the Fighting Irish are the worst team they will face in their last five games.

Smart betting pick

Time is running out on Notre Dame to make a push for the Big Dance, as the team is still without Bonzie Colson (foot), and it might be too late when he finally returns. While having Farrell back is great, he cannot single-handedly take down North Carolina.

The Tar Heels are performing too well right now, so take them to win big and cover again.

College basketball betting trends

Notre Dame is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games.

The total has gone over in four of North Carolina's last five games.

North Carolina is 5-1 ATS in its last six games at home.

All college basketball odds and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.