College Basketball Sports Betting Preview: Michigan State Spartans vs North Carolina Tar Heels
After losing the National Championship to close out the '08-'09 college basketball betting season, the Michigan State Spartans (5-1, 2-3 ATS) will invade Tobacco Road in search of some revenge against the North Carolina Tar Heels (6-1, 2-4 ATS). These two teams have met each other four times since 2005, with Carolina holding a 4-0 SU and ATS advantage in the basketball gambling proceedings. However, tonight's ACC-Big Ten Challenge wagering affair will be just the second visit to the Dean Smith Center since 2000.
Michigan State betting fanatics have had a rough time trying to pick up victories this season thanks to the fact that the Spartans have been double digit favorites in four of their five lined games this year. However, if their most recent game is any indicator, the boys clad in green and white are going to be a tough challenge for the Tar Heels. UMass was the sacrificial lamb that had to take on MSU after its 77-74 loss to Florida, and the end result wasn't pretty. The Minutemen were handed a 106-68 defeat. Sparty will need to use all of its offensive weapons to win this crucial early season NCAA basketball betting affair, as it ranks eighth in the land in scoring (86.2 points per game) and 17th in field goal percentage (50.4%).
North Carolina may not totally look like the same team that won the National Championship last year, but it is still a lethal offensive squad. Carolina is right there with Michigan State, averaging 83.7 points per game and shooting 51.8% from the field. However, even though the Tar Heels were a guard-oriented team last season, their strength is in the post in '09-'10. Fs Deon Thompson and Ed Davis are dominating for UNC betting fans. The forwards rank #1 and #2 in both points per game and rebounds per game on the squad, and Michigan State will have to limit their combined 30.1 points and 18.4 rebounds per game to win the game. The Tar Heels are going to have to avoid sloppiness in this game, as five players have already reached double digits in turnovers in the NCAA basketball gambling season.
North Carolina has been lined as a three-point basketball gambling favorite on Monday night. The Spartans are 12-3-1 ATS in their L/16 college basketball betting battles on the road against teams with a winning record, but North Carolina is a very impressive 40-14 ATS in its L/54 non-conference games overall.
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