Texas vs. North Carolina: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The Texas Longhorns (9-2) face off with the North Carolina Tar Heels (10-2) in one of college basketball's first marquee matchups of the season. Something will need to give inside the Dean Dome, as both teams enter the game on extended winning streaks.

Texas is coming off a 12-point win over the Temple Owls on Saturday and haven't lost since Nov. 21 against the N.C. State Wolfpack. The Longhorns like to play an up-tempo pace to keep all of their guards involved on offense.

North Carolina entered the season with as much hype as any team in the nation. A couple early losses proved there is still room for improvement, but Roy Williams will tell you he'd take any loss now to make sure his team is best prepared come tournament time.

Where: Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.

When: Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN2 and ESPN3.com

Listen: KVET 1300 AM (Texas) or WCHL 1360 AM (North Carolina)

Betting Line: North Carolina -11

Key Injuries

Texas: No injuries to report.

North Carolina: G Leslie McDonald (out indefinitely, knee surgery)

What's At Stake?

The Longhorns will attempt to prove their quick start is no fluke. They aren't ranked inside the Top 25 because none of their wins have come against formidable opponents. A victory over the Tar Heels would go a long way in proving they belong in the polls.

As for North Carolina, expectations are sky high in Chapel Hill once again. Two road losses against top-ranked Kentucky and an underrated UNLV squad are nothing to worry about and should actually help the Tar Heels over the long run by taking some pressure off their shoulders.

What They're Saying

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams will get a chance to accomplish something for the first time since taking over the Tar Heels: 

College basketball legend Dick Vitale weighs in with his thoughts on tonight's game:

Texas Player to Watch: G J'Covan Brown

Brown is the Longhorns go-to guy on offense. He's averaged more than double the amount of shot attempts outside of any player other than cold-shooting Julien Lewis. The junior is scoring 19 points and four assists per game.

If Texas wants to pull off an upset, Brown is going to need to perform on an All-America level. He doesn't have as much depth backing him up as North Carolina's stars do, which puts a boatload of pressure on his shoulders.

North Carolina Player to Watch: F John Henson

Henson is one of just eight players in the country averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds. His interior dominance is one of the main reasons North Carolina was widely selected as a Final Four team heading into the season, and he's done nothing to change anybody's mind.

He's made steady improvement since his freshman season, especially in terms of playing to his strengths in the post. His only noticeable weakness would be free throw shooting, so don't be surprised to see a little “Hack-a-Henson” if the game is close.

Key Matchup: Texas' quickness vs. North Carolina's size

Texas' top three scorers are all guards who are listed at 6'4'' or shorter. North Carolina's top three scorers are all forwards who are listed at 6'8'' or taller. Perhaps, needless to say, there's a contrast in styles between the two teams.

The Longhorns need to figure out a way to make sure the Tar Heels don't dominate the glass. If their big men are grabbing a bunch of offensive rebounds, this game could turn into a blowout. Ultimately, the final score will probably be directly correlated with the rebound margin.

Prediction

North Carolina 82, Texas 75