The Duke Blue Devils (22-8, 13-6 ACC) finish the season against the North Carolina Tar Heels (19-11, 11-8) Saturday in Chapel Hill. Tip from Dean E. Smith Center is at 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Duke vs. UNC odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
After these rivals, located just 7 miles apart, met in the Final Four in 2022, no one would have imagined their 2023 regular-season finales possibly being for a return trip to the tournament.
UNC came into the season ranked No. 1 in the nation with 4 returning starters and an excellent incoming freshman class. Legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski retired following 2022, but this was not supposed to happen.
The Tar Heels will likely miss the tournament unless they can win Saturday and make a deep run in the ACC Tournament. Duke is more solid in its position, but it would love nothing better than to be the final nail in its rival’s coffin.