Michigan vs. North Carolina Prediction and Odds: Will UNC Final Cover a Game?

The Michigan Wolverines have struggled early on this season but are a far better team than UNC on paper.
The Michigan Wolverines have struggled early on this season but are a far better team than UNC on paper. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Big Ten-ACC Challenge games don’t get much better than this.

No. 24 Michigan Wolverines heads on the road to the Dean. E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Wolverines are 2.5-point road favorites despite some iffy moments in the first few weeks of the season. Those major iffy moments are their two losses in the six games. The first was to Seton Hall 67-65 and then Arizona beat them 80-62. Heading into their game against the Pirates, Michigan was No. 4 in the nation.

UNC is also 4-2 with losses to No. 2 Purdue and No. 13 Tennessee but are coming off a decisive 72-53 win over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs. Can the Tar Heels finally beat a ranked opponent or will Michigan find their footing and get back in the groove? 

Here are the odds for this Big Ten-ACC Challenge game,, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Michigan vs. North Carolina Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Michigan -2.5 (-110)
  • North Carolina +2.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Michigan -140
  • North Carolina +120

Total: 151.0 (Over -110/Under -110)

Michigan vs. UNC Prediction and Pick

One thing to mention right off the bat is that the North Carolina Tar Heels are 0-6 against the spread so far this year. Two of those ATS losses came when the Tar Heels were listed as underdogs and three as a home team. Even last week’s “big” 19 point win over NC-Asheville failed to hit the 23.5 point spread. 

Michigan isn’t doing too much better in that category and is 2-4 ATS. Two of those were from games they outright lost as favorites. The other two include their opening night game against Buffalo and their last game against Tarleton State. Their issues have been largely at home where they are 0-3 ATS. I worry that the Wolverines looked like a tired team in their win over Tarleton State. They led by just two-point at the half and had to fight tooth and nail for the entire game. 

While there are some legit concerns surrounding Juwan Howards Wolverines, the fact is they are a much better team than UNC. Even if they don’t always look like it. The Wolverines will need to step up their game big-time before Big Ten play starts and beating UNC is a great first step.

Pick: Michigan -2.5 (-110)

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