ACC Rivals Clash in Atlanta: North Carolina at Georgia Tech

North Carolina Tarheels at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta, GA
Sunday, January 16, 2011, 7:45 pm Eastern, TV: Fox Sports Net
Opening Line: UNC -6 1/2
Current Line: UNC -6
Opening Total: 146 1/2
Current Total: 147
Money Line: UNC -260 / Georgia Tech +220

John Henson and the North Carolina Tarheels are 6 point favorites on the road against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in ACC action.

The North Carolina Tarheels are 12-4 and 2-0 in the ACC this season. They have won 5 straight and might be finally living up to the potential of their pre-season top 10 ranking. The Tarheels are in first place in the ACC as they are the only team still undefeated in league play. They have losses to Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Illinois and Texas on the season. They ahve wins over Charleston, Kentucky, Rutgers, Virginia, and Virginia Tech on the season. The game against Virginia Tech was in Chapel Hill and the Tarheels won 64-61 after rallying from a 16 point deficit. Carolina travels to Atlanta to take on the 7-8, 0-2 in the ACC, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech isn’t very good. They ahve 8 losses on the season to Kennesaw St, Syracuse, Northwestern, Georgia, Siena, Charlotte, Boston College and Clemson on the year. The best two wins are against UTEP and Richmond. Georgia Tech has lost 3 straight this season and 4 out of the last 5. North Carolina leads the all-time series 60-23, and is 12-10 all time at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Yellow Jackets have won 5 of the last 6 meetings at home versus Carolina. Three of the last four meetings have gone under the total. Carolina is 18-29 ATS in all games the last 2 seasons, including 5-13 ATS against conference foes in the same span.

Forward Tyler Zeller is the leading scorer for the Tarheels with 14.6 points a game. He also averages 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks a game. Forward Harrison Barnes averages 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists a game. Forward John Henson leads the team in rebounds with 8.4 a game and blocks with 2.8 a game. He also averages 10.4 points a game. Dexter Strickland leads the team in steals with 1.4 a game. Reserve Kendall Marshall leads the team in assists with 4.4 a game. UNC is outscoring opponents 78-67. The Tarheels are shooting 46.1% from the field and 34.5% from 3-point range. Tarheel opponents are shooting 40% from the field. The Tarheels struggle from the free throw line converting only 63.1% from the line. North Carolina averages 42.5 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +6.7. They average 15.6 assists and 14.1 turnovers a game. They force 15.6 turnovers a game on defense. Carolina averages 6.8 steals and 5.5 blocks a game.

Georgia Tech is led by junior guard Iman Shumpert. He averages 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals a game. He leads the team in all of those categories. Guard Glen Rice Jr averages 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals a game. Guard/forward Brian Oliver averages 11 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists a game. No Yellow jacket player averages more than 1 block a game. Georgia tech is outscoring opponents 71-69 on the season. The Jackets shoot 41.1% from the field and 29% from 3 point range. Tech opponents are shooting 45.2% from the field. The Yellow Jackets make 72.3% from the free throw line. They average 36.1 rebounds and have a rebounding margin of +1.8. Tech averages 14.1 assists and 13.6 turnovers a game. They force 17 turnovers a game on defense. Tech averages 4.6 blocks and 9.8 steals a game.

Though Georgia Tech has gone 2-1-1 ATS and 3-1 straight up against North Carolina in the last two seasons, The Tarheels are clearly a better team this year. They have a definitive edge in every area except free throw shooting. Georgia tech is tough at home, but I think the Tarheels snap the streak and win handily.