The Texas Longhorns (4-0) will be in the Las Vegas Invitational at Orleans Arena when they take on the seventh-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0). Action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 22, 2018.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Texas Longhorns ATS Odds
Both teams dismantled their last opponent. The Longhorns defeated the Citadel Bulldogs 97-69, while the Tar Heels beat the Saint Francis U Red Flash 101-76.
North Carolina played a nearly perfect game. They had an absurd effective field goal percentage of 0.600 (above their season average of 0.562) and a free throw rate of 0.354 (above their season average of 0.223). Saint Francis U was 0.418 and 0.299, respectively, for those same stats. Texas, on the other hand, played a nearly perfect game. They had a ridiculously low turnover percentage of 7.0 (better than their season average of 15.8) and an offensive rebounding percentage of 48.8 (above their season average of 26.5). Citadel put up marks of 22.8 and 25.6, respectively, for those same stats. Texas’ Dylan Osetkowski had a good outing, contributing 15 points and 11 rebounds. Cameron Johnson fueled North Carolina with 20 points and six rebounds.
Texas should be expected to protect the ball well in this contest. Since the 2017-18 season, Texas ranks 59th in the NCAA at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 16.9 percent), while North Carolina has forced the 67th-fewest turnovers (17.1 percent). Also, the 18th-ranked offense of the Tar Heels (offensive efficiency of 115.3) will square off against the 52nd-ranked defense of the Longhorns (defensive efficiency of 98.6).
North Carolina vs. Texas Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – Texas, O/U – Under
