This Elite 8 matchup features the two biggest Cinderella stories in the tournament. In one corner, we have North Carolina (8), one of the hottest teams in college basketball, fresh off upsets over Baylor and UCLA. On the other, we’ve got Saint Peter’s (15), a dark horse that has shocked Kentucky, Murray State, and Purdue.
The Tar Heels combine strong guard play with some post presence and the ability to knock it down from long range. The Peacocks have gotten the job done with strong defense and clutch shooting.
Will Saint Peter’s continue their improbable run to the Final Four? Or will the buck stop here with the Tar Heels? Let’s dive in to help predict this intriguing matchup.
North Carolina vs Saint Peter’s Odds
North Carolina vs Saint Peter’s March Madness odds are provided by Caesars and are current as of Saturday, March 26, at 1 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: UNC (-400) vs Saint Peter’s (+310)
- Spread: UNC -8.5 (-110) vs Saint Peter’s +8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 137 (-110) / Under 137 (-110)
- Implied Score: UNC 72.75, Saint Peter’s 64.25
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North Carolina vs Saint Peter’s Prediction
North Carolina ranks 19th on offense and 42nd on defense, per KenPom. They have impressive wins over UCLA, Baylor, and Duke in their last six games.
Guard Caleb Love just dropped 30 points, picking up the slack after forward Brady Manek had a slow game, reflecting the depth of this squad.
Saint Peter’s continues to get it done on defense, holding both Purdue and Murray State to fewer than 65 points. They also limited Kentucky to only 71 points in regulation. The Peacocks will need to keep this up if they’re going to slow down the Tar Heels.
After pulling off three consecutive wins as double-digit underdogs, Saint Peter’s is now projected to lose by nine or more points, according to the spread. This team continues to be underestimated and it’s likely that they’re able to at least keep it close here.
Having said that, I think that the Tar Heels will prevail in this spot.
UNC vs Saint Peter’s Score Pick
UNC 71, Saint Peter’s 66
You could make a legitimate case that North Carolina will be the Peacocks’ toughest opponent since Kentucky in the first round with the way that the Tar Heels are playing right now.
While the Peacocks should put a scare into the Tar Heels, I think that their run ends here. North Carolina is playing at too high of a level right now.
UCLA vs North Carolina Best Bets
Saint Peter’s +8.5 (-110) at Caesars
Wager: 1 Unit
I’m rolling with the trend here and taking the Peacocks against the spread. Saint Peter’s continues to come into games as large underdogs, and they keep winning outright.
I know it can be risky to take a team you don’t think will win to cover the point spread, but I just believe that this line is too high with the way that the Peacocks have played throughout this tournament.
Let’s go with Saint Peter’s and the points in our CBB bet of the day.
North Carolina/Saint Peter’s Under 137 Total Points (-110) at Caesars
Wager: 1 Unit
While North Carolina has played really well offensively, Saint Peter’s has done a great job on defense. The Peacocks are tied for 250th in pace, which bodes well for the Under.
- Find the rest of our Elite 8 Best Bets for the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
The Under also correlates well with Saint Peter’s +8.5. If the Peacocks are able to keep the game close, there’s a good chance that they’re playing well defensively.
Ride with the Under in this spot.
