Online sports betting USA odds favor the North Carolina Tar Heels by 23 points over the Iona College Gaels. The Tar Heels finished the season with a 27-6 straight-up record (16-2 in ACC play). According to the best online sportsbooks, UNC went 21-10-2 ATS. North Carolina was the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season co-champions. However, they failed to upset Duke in the ACC tournament championship game. Though they did manage to cover the 4.5-point spread. Iona went 17-15 this season (12-6 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play). Also, the Gaels finished 13-19 against the spread. Iona won both the MAAC regular season and tournament. They prevailed upon Monmouth 81-60 in the title game as 4.5-point faves.
Notwithstanding all of the Gaels’ accolades this season, UNC will be Iona’s toughest challenge yet. “It’s a great opportunity to play against one of the best teams in the country,” head coach Tim Cluess said. “I got to watch them on TV the other night against Duke, and we look forward to the challenge.”
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Iona Gaels Odds
- Date: Friday March 22, 2019
- Time: 8:20 PM (EDT)
- Venue: Nationwide Arena Columbus, OH
- Odds from GTBets.eu:
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iona | +22½ (-110) | 166 (-110) | +2500 |  |
| North Carolina | -22½ (-110) | 166 (-110) | -5000 | |
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Betting North Carolina
The Tar Heels score the third-most points per game in the country with 86.1 while allowing 72.9. UNC shoots 46.4% from the field and keeps opponents to just 41.3%. North Carolina reigns supreme on the boards, averaging an NCAA-leading 43.9 rebounds per game. In fact, rebounding – and scoring and assisting – is one of the five reasons that UNC is going to win it all. Which presumably includes their first round game versus Iona College. The other four reasons are experience, talent and depth, versatility, and Hall of Fame head coach Roy Williams.
Per online sports betting USA trends, the Heels are 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS in their last nine games. UNC won those eight games by an average margin of 14.6 points. Additionally, North Carolina is 3-1-1 ATS in their last five games after a straight up loss. 3-1-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games. And 1-3-1 ATS in their last five NCAA tournament games.
Betting Iona
The Gaels are putting 76.8 points per game on the scoreboard, and yielding 75.6. Iona’s field goal percentage is 45.3 and their opponents’ is 44.5. The Gaels fall way short of the Heels with just 35.2 rebounds per game. The Gaels are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games on a neutral court. 0-6 ATS in their last six NCAA tournament games. And 0-7 ATS in their last seven games when playing a team with .600 or higher winning percentage. But perhaps the most important number of them all is 1.5%. That’s Iona College’s chance of beating UNC. It’s better than 0%, though. The Gaels hope to emulate the UMBC team that knocked Virginia off last year. “That gives us a lot of confidence, seeing that a 16 beat a No. 1 team,” senior guard Rickey McGill said. “We just have to come out and play our game.”
Pick: The Gaels put the metal to the metal in the final stretch of the season. Iona went 10-0 SU and 8-2 ATS in the last 10 games. Even that hot streak, though, can barely mask the Gaels’ lackluster numbers against the online sports betting USA spread. On the other hand, UNC has the No. 3 offense in the country, in spite of having the fourth toughest schedule. You know, I don’t even know what a Gael is. And it doesn’t matter, since they’re about to become extinct.
