Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at #8 North Carolina Tar Heels
Dean E. Smith Center – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Sunday, January 29, 2012, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: North Carolina -21 1/2
Current Line: North Carolina -21
Opening Total: 143 1/2
Current Total: 142 1/2
Opening Money Line: North Carolina -4400 / Georgia Tech +2700
Current Money Line: North Carolina -6400 / Georgia Tech +3600
Georgia Tech and North Carolina are 2 teams headed in opposite directions. Georgia tech is 8-12 this season and tied for last in the ACC with Virginia Tech with 1-5 conference records. The Yellow Jackets have lost 8 of their last 9 games, and 4 in a row including a 64-49 loss at home versus Miami-FL Tuesday night. It doesn’t get any easier as they travel to Chapel Hill to take on the #8 17-3 North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC is 4-1 in conference, a half game behind Duke and Florida St who both have 5-1 conference records. The Tar Heels have won 11 of their last 12 games, including a 74-55 win over North Carolina St Thursday night. North Carolina leads the series 60-24 against Georgia Tech, including 27-5 in Chapel Hill. Georgia Tech has beaten North Carolina 4 straight times including a 78-58 win in Atlanta last year.
Georgia Tech has struggled under first year coach Brian Gregory. The Yellow Jackets have 8 freshmen and sophomores on the roaster, and only 5 upperclassmen. Georgia Tech has wins over Virginia Commonwealth, Siena, Georgia, and North Carolina St. The Yellow Jackets have losses to St. Joseph’s, LSU, Northwestern, Tulane, Mercer, Fordham, Alabama, Duke, Maryland, Virginia, and Clemson in addition to the Miami loss.
North Carolina is coached by Roy Williams. The Tar Heels have losses to UNLV, Kentucky, and Florida St, all on the road to teams currently ranked. UNC has wins over Michigan St, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Long Beach St, Texas, Boston College, Miami, and Virginia Tech in addition to the NC State win.
Georgia Tech is being outscored 62.5-62.4 this season. The Yellow Jackets are shooting 43.8% from the field and 30.8% from 3 point range. Georgia Tech makes 64% of their free throws. The Yellow Jackets average 36.7 rebounds a game with a rebounding margin of +4.8. Georgia Tech averages 10.8 assists, 14.6 turnovers, 5.2 steals and 5.4 blocks a game. Georgia Tech opponents are shooting 39.6% from 3 point range and 33.1% from 3 point range. The Yellow Jackets force 11.4 turnovers a game.
Georgia Tech guard/forward Glen Rice Jr. averages 13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals a game to lead the team in all categories. He can light it up like his famous father shooting 33.3% from 3 point range. Mfon Udofia averages 10.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a game. Kammeron Holsey, Jason Morris, Daniel Miller, and Brandon Reed also contribute to the scoring. Miller averages 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks a game to lead the team.
North Carolina is outscoring opponents 85-67 this season. The Tar Heels are #1 in the country in scoring. North Carolina shoots 47.7% from the field and 35% from 3 point range. UNC makes 64.4% from the free throw line. The Tar Heels lead the nation in rebounding with 46.4 rebounds a game, with a rebounding margin of +12.1. The Tar Heels average 18.4 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 7.5 steals, and 6.2 blocks a game. UNC is 4th nationally in assists. UNC opponents are shooting 38.4% from the field, and 32.2% from 3 point range. The Heels force 14.6 turnovers a game on defense.
UNC forward Harrison Barnes averages 17.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1.3 steals a game to tie for the team lead. He makes 42.1% of his 3 point attempts. Tyler Zeller averages 14.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks a game. John Henson averages 14.3 points, 10.1 rebounds to lead the team, 1.4 assists, and 3.3 blocks a game to lead the team. Reggie Bullock averages 8.5 points, and 4.4 rebounds a game. Kendall Marshall is tied for the team lead in steals with Barnes with 1.3 a game. Strickland is out for the season with a torn ACL. Marshall also leads the Heels in assists with 9.6 a game. Guard Leslie McDonald is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
North Carolina is 11-8 against the spread and the total is 9-10 this season. Georgia Tech is 6-9 ATS and the total is 8-7 this season. Georgia Tech is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 against North Carolina, and all 4 games went under the total. The home team is 7-1 ATS in this series recently. The Yellow Jackets are 12-4 ATS after a double digit home loss, 4-9-1 as a road underdog, 7-18-1 against teams with winning records, 5-13-1 in road games, 4-11-1 in road games against teams with winning home records, 1-5 in Sunday games, and 0-5 as a road underdog of 13 points or more. The Tar Heels are 5-2 at home and as a home favorite, 4-17 in Sunday games, and 1-6 in games against teams with losing records.
There is no question North Carolina is the stronger team here. They have a significant advantage in every category. Plus you add in the fact that Georgia Tech gave North Carolina an embarrassing 20 point beat down last season, and all signs point to a Tar Heel blowout. Lay the 21 with the Tar Heels.
