Preview and Picks for the Sweet 16 matchup between Alabama and North Carolina

The North Carolina Tar Heels have been known by BetOnline patrons in the past for being the kind of team that could motor up and down the floor but may have been lacking somewhat at the defensive end.

But that description now fits the Alabama Crimson Tide a little better. UNC has been the team that can play some lockdown. And after falling asleep for a while last weekend, they came alive like one of those bears who’s been hibernating all winter.

With a record of 29-7, the Heels won their way into a position where they were the #1 seed in the West region. And here they are, two wins away from going back to the Final Four. And we say that while acknowledging that while they got there in 2022, they didn’t go to the postseason at all last year.

North Carolina can still out the ball in the hoop - they are 16th best in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency, according to the folks at KenPom. But while they are not brick-layers, they don’t have a team filled with deadeye shooters either.

What they have is the ability to trot out some size. And they have the effective big man in Armando Bacot, who operates with authority at both ends of the floor.

In the odds at BetOnline against which our Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament picks are going to be made, the Tar Heels are the favorites:

North Carolina Tar Heels -4 (-115)
Alabama Crimson Tide   +4 (-105)

Over 178.5 points -112
Under 178.5 points -108

And keep in mind that if you go to the left-hand side of the menu, you’ll find the “Live Betting” tab, so you can place wagers on the game in progress!

Michigan State jumped out to a twelve-point advantage in Saturday’s game, and the more nervous Carolina rooters were probably getting somewhat panicked. 

But the Heels went on a massive run to take a nine-point halftime lead into the locker room, and that took a lot of the fight out of Tom Izzo’s squad. The final was 85-69, and it was a very big day for the team’s leading scorer, RJ Davis, who had 20 points. The 6-7 forward Harrison Ingram stepped out and hit five triples. And Bacot scored 18 points. 

Coach Hubert Davis was wondering who might fill the vacuum left by last year’s leading scorer, Caleb Live, who could meet his former teammates in the next round, as he’s playing for Arizona now. But Davis and Bacot have raised their level, and Ingram and Cormac Ryan, who transferred from Stanford and Notre Dame, respectively, are very much in on the act.

Alabama sent Grand Canyon to the line 37 times but still came away comfortably. Alabama got 20 offensive rebounds, held GCU to two triples and got 26 points from Mark Sears.

The thing is, Alabama isn’t able to defend without sending teams to the line. And while that doesn’t absolutely kill them vs. Carolina, it doesn’t help. The Tar Heels are one of the best at guarding the middle and pulling down misses. Bacot will neutralize Alabama’s Grant Nelson. And the more well-rounded Heels will win and cover.

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