Michigan State Spartans vs North Carolina Tar Heels Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Michigan State vs North Carolina NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Maui.

Michigan State vs North Carolina Prediction

Betting on today's Spartans and Tar Heels game? Catch the action at Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, HI, as the Tar Heels hosts this showdown at 9:30 ET on ESPN2. The over/under for this game is set at 156.5 points, and North Carolina is favored by -4.5 against Michigan State in a non-conference matchup.

Michigan State vs. North Carolina Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Michigan State Spartans at North Carolina Tar Heels
Where: Maui at Lahaina Civic Center
Date: Wednesday, November 27th
Betting Odds NCAR -4.5, MST +159 | NCAR -192 O/U 156.5

Spartans Preview: Is a Road Win Possible for Michigan State?

Michigan State dropped a 71-63 decision to Memphis on Tuesday, falling short of expectations as -2.5 favorites. The Spartans were at home but couldn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total points of 134 came in well under the O/U line of 150.5.

After trailing 34-31 at the half, Michigan State couldn’t turn things around, scoring 32 points in the 2nd half while allowing 37.

Spartans Offense Breakdown

In their last game, Michigan State put up 63 points, shooting 42.3% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 50%, and they hit 63.2% of their free throws, going 12-for-19 from the line. The Spartans grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and dished out 15 assists.

Tyrese Hunter led the way with 23 points, knocking down 5-of-10 threes. Jase Richardson added 18 points, hitting 3-of-5 from deep, while PJ Haggerty contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds, despite shooting just 1-of-4 from three.

Spartans Team Defense

Michigan State's defense gave up 71 points, with their opponents shooting 42% from the field, hitting 22 of 52 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 15 of 32 shots to fall, a 46% success rate.

From three-point range, Michigan State's defense saw 7 of 20 shots go in, a 35% clip. They also sent their opponents to the line 19 times, where they converted 12 free throws, shooting 63%. The Spartans gave up 12 offensive rebounds.

Tar Heels Preview: Can North Carolina Secure a Home Victory?

North Carolina dropped to 4-2 on the season after an 85-72 home loss to Auburn on Tuesday. The Tar Heels entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 157, falling short of the 167.5 O/U line.

UNC trailed 40-32 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the second half, where they scored 40 points but allowed 45. The Tar Heels will need to tighten up defensively as they look to bounce back in their next game.

Tar Heels Offense Breakdown

In their last game, North Carolina put up 72 points, shooting 43.5% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc (6/16). Their effective field goal percentage was 48.4%, and they hit 63.2% of their free throws (12/19). The Tar Heels struggled on the offensive glass, grabbing just 7 offensive rebounds, and they finished with only 7 assists as a team.

Johni Broome led the way with 23 points and 19 rebounds, shooting 50% from the field and 2/4 from deep. Seth Trimble added 17 points, hitting 3/6 from three, while Miles Kelly contributed 15 points, connecting on 3/7 from long range.

Tar Heels Team Defense

North Carolina's defense gave up 85 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 43% from the field. They allowed 21 two-point baskets on 46 attempts, a 45% success rate.

From beyond the arc, the Tar Heels gave up 6 threes on 16 attempts, with opponents hitting 37%. They also sent the other team to the line 19 times, where they made 12 free throws.

Spartans vs Tar Heels Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last ten games away from home, the Spartans have a straight up record of 4-6 while going 6-4 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 67 points per game in these contests.
When looking at their past ten home matchups, North Carolina has an ATS record of 7-3 while averaging 75 per game. The team went 7-3 overall in these games.
Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Spartans have gone 1-2 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 0-3.
In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Tar Heels have a straight up record of 8-2 and an ATS mark of 5-5.