Fansided

2022 March Madness: North Carolina vs. UCLA prediction, game time, live stream

By Aryanna Prasad

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 19: R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels shoots a free throw in the second half of the game against the Baylor Bears during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 19, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 19: R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels shoots a free throw in the second half of the game against the Baylor Bears during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 19, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

March Madness rages on with a Friday Sweet 16  matchup between the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels and the No. 4 UCLA Bruins.

March Madness proves to be unpredictable every year, with No. 8 North Carolina defeating No. 1 Baylor in a thrilling overtime win.

In the Sweet 16 round, UNC can only hope that the referees won’t be working against them as they face the No. 4 UCLA Bruins.

UNC has extensive NCAA Championship history, taking the title in 2017 and making the bracket in every season since then. Still, UCLA had their own noteworthy run last season when they made it all the way to the Final Four. Last year, UNC didn’t make it past Iona in the first round, but this year’s run proves the Tar Heels are hungry for more.

North Carolina vs. UCLA game time

The Sweet 16 matchup between North Carolina and UCLA will tip off at 9:39 p.m. ET from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

CBS will broadcast the game nationally, but the game can also be found on fubo.tv for those without cable subscriptions.

North Carolina vs. UCLA prediction

North Carolina and UCLA present as opposites: UCLA has been strong all year, while UNC has been the definition of a hot team. When North Carolina is on fire, they’re unstoppable, which has been the case so far in the tournament.

Unfortunately, the team can fall apart as quickly as they can come together. Although the Brady Manek foul and the unraveling that resulted thereafter was a unique situation, it stressed the weakness in UNC’s defense.

Defense is the strength of UCLA, whereas its weakness tends to be in scoring. The Bruins can win the game if they can throw the Tar Heels off their game, but it’s easier said than done in the playoffs.

According to BetSided, “the Tar Heels’ opponent average shooting percentage this season is 42.8%, but over their last three games, that number has dropped to 37.4%, which proves just how dominant they’ve been in March Madness.”

Prediction: North Carolina will win 75-71.

Next. Top 25 college basketball rivalries. dark

For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.

Home/March Madness