North Carolina AT Boston College
February 1st, 2011 at 9 PM EST
Opening Line:  NC -3
Current Line: NC -3
Opening Total:  147.5
Current Total: 148.5
Opening Moneyline:  UNC -140 / BC +120
Current Moneyline:   UNC -150 / BC +130

UNC enters tonight’s game ranked 23rd in the Top 25 rankings and Boston College isn’t ranked.  But that doesn’t mean much.  The Boston College Eagles have won 10 of their last 11 at home and UNC has not won at Boston College since March 1, 2008.  Moreover, Boston College won the last matchup between the teams in their only game last year 71-67.

North Carolina sits at second in the ACC with a 5-1 conference record, while Boston College sports a 4-3 ACC record, 4th best in the conference.

Over the last three game, the Tarheels have averaged 77.7 points and shot 47.3% from the floor, slightly higher than their season shooting percentage of 45%.

UNC is expecting big things from freshman Harrison Barnes, who has displayed the inconsistency mixed with greatness that phenom freshman often do.  “He’s a gifted young man who’s been wanting to break out,” coach Roy Williams said. “I had a hunch that he might play better because he’s gone through all those other experiences, and he’s the kind of young man who learns from those things.”

Some betting trends:

North Carolina is 4-1 SU in their past 5 road games and the total has gone UNDER in 5 of their last 6 on the road.

Boston College is 11-5 SU in their last 16 games and 10-1 SU in their last 11 home games.  They are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against UNC and the total has gone UNDER in 5 of the last 6 games between the teams.

UNC is led by the trio of the aforementioned Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, and John Henson.  Between the three of them they average 37.1 points per game, for nearly half (48% here) of  UNC’s scoring production.  UNC is a very deep team.  They have 10 players who all play 12 minutes a game or more, and no one averages more than 27 minutes (Barnes leads the team with 27 minutes a game).  UNC’s 7 footer Tyler Zeller leads the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per night.  He also is a fair shotblocker with 1.3 blocks per contest.  He has scored in double figures in all but 3 UNC games and recorded a season high 27 points against Kentucky, bolstered by his 11 rebounds and 5 blocks.  Boston College doesn’t really have anyone capable of guarding Zeller (few do), as they only have one player on their team over 6’8″  That would be 6’10” senior center Josh Southern, who at the moment only averages 19.7 minutes a game.  He may see extended action tonight to counter act Zeller.

Boston College is led by 6’3″ junior guard Reggie Jackson.  Jackson puts up 18.5 points per game, 5 assists, 4.4 rebounds and shoots 44% from three.  He has scored in double figures in every game except their last game against Duke.  He’s scored 20 or more 8 times and is capable of having big nights from three point range.  Joe Trapani will probably find himself matched up with Zeller from time to time, as he is 6’8″ and Boston College’s best interior player.  He puts up 14.1 points himself and averages 7 rebounds per game, as well.  Over his last 5 games he is averaging 9.6 rebounds per game and BC is going to need him to play like that tonight, as UNC averages 13.9 offensive rebounds a game.  If Boston College doesn’t do well on the boards, they could be in for a long night.

Tonight’s game should be extremely close. UNC is the better of the two teams, but Tonight’s game should be extremely close. UNC is the better of the two teams, but Boston College is extremely tough at home and they aren’t far from being in the AP Top 25 themselves.

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