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  1. Home
  2. NCAAB Picks
  3. SMU Mustangs vs North Carolina Tar Heels
Tue 9:00 PM ET
SMU Mustangs logo
SMU
Mustangs67
20-13
versus
North Carolina Tar Heels logo
North Carolina
Tar Heels82
24-8
Final
Team12T
SMU Mustangs244367
North Carolina Tar Heels394382
NCAAB · SMU Mustangs at North Carolina Tar Heels

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SMU Mustangs vs North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Picks & Predictions

Game time: January 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET

Venue: Dean E. Smith Center — Chapel Hill, NC

Article updated Jan 7, 8:18 AM EST

Published by SportsJaw Editorial Team

The ACC will feature a matchup on Tuesday night between North Carolina (11-3, 2-1 ACC) and SMU (9-6, 2-1 ACC). SMU is new to the ACC this year and is coming off a tough loss

Game outlook

The ACC will feature a matchup on Tuesday night between North Carolina (11-3, 2-1 ACC) and SMU (9-6, 2-1 ACC). SMU is new to the ACC this year and is coming off a tough loss to Duke. North Carolina narrowly defeated Notre Dame in their last game. The game is set to take place at 9:00 EST in Chapel Hill and will be broadcast on the ACC Network. North Carolina is the favored team with a -6 point spread that has not changed.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Mustangs +205 | Tar Heels -254

Spread: Mustangs +6 (-110) | Tar Heels -6 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 166.5 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that North Carolina will win straight-up is 72%.

SMU Mustangs

The SMU Mustangs suffered a tough loss to #4 Duke, despite coming into the matchup with an eight-game winning streak. Led by Boopie Miller, who scored 21 points in the game, the Mustangs have proven to be a competitive team this season. Miller is a key player for SMU, along with Chuck Harris and Matt Cross. The team ranks 11th in offense and 172nd in defense, with strong shooting percentages and rebounding stats. SMU is a team to watch in college basketball this season.

North Carolina Tar Heels Analysis

The North Carolina Tar Heels secured a dramatic win over Notre Dame, led by freshman standout Ian Jackson who scored 27 points. Despite falling out of the Top 25, North Carolina is focused on regaining respect and climbing back up the rankings. Jackson's recent scoring surge has caught the attention of NBA scouts, with him being projected as the 12th pick in the draft. Senior RJ Davis continues to lead the team in scoring, while junior Seth Trimble adds strength on the perimeter. Currently ranked 35th overall by KenPom, the Tar Heels excel in offense and pace of play. Defensively, they are working on improving their efficiency. Additionally, in terms of betting, the Tar Heels have a power ranking of 222 and are ranked #20 for offense and #337 for defense. They hit a high percentage of field goals and free throws, and have solid rebounding numbers. On defense, they are looking to tighten up their perimeter defense and reduce turnovers.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

SMU Faces Tough Road Ahead Against ACC Powerhouses

Southern Methodist University is undergoing an adjustment period in their new conference, the ACC, and faced a tough challenge from Duke in their recent matchup. While games against Boston College and Virginia may not pose as much of a mental challenge, facing top teams like Duke and UNC can be daunting for SMU. Following a demoralizing loss to Duke at home, SMU now faces a road game against North Carolina at the Dean Dome. Ian Jackson has been living up to expectations as a high-level scorer for UNC, providing a strong offensive presence alongside Davis. With four perimeter players averaging double-digit points per game, and a fast-paced style of play, North Carolina will likely look to overpower SMU. While SMU has faced mostly unranked opponents so far, North Carolina's talent level suggests they could easily be ranked higher. Expect the Tar Heels to dominate and cover the spread in this matchup.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Unavailable for this preview

Projected winnerUnavailableConfidencelow
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Unavailable

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Unavailable

#SMUMustangs#NorthCarolinaTarHeels

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Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw published this archived preview from its original game-day article. Its prediction and quoted lines are preserved as written.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Mustangs vs Tar Heels archived game preview contains historical odds and availability that may no longer be current. View history of past Mustangs vs Tar Heels matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · SMU Mustangs+205 → +249Moved
  • Moneyline · North Carolina Tar Heels-254 → -300Moved
  • Spread · SMU Mustangs+6 (-110) → +6.5 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · North Carolina Tar Heels-6 (-110) → -6.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Over166.5 (-110) → 165.75 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Under166.5 (-110) → 165.75 (-110)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

SMU Mustangs
20-13 matchup record · 5-5-0 ATS · 6-4-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
North Carolina Tar Heels
24-8 matchup record · 2-8-0 ATS · 4-6-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2025-01-07T13:18:29.658Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

No verified injury or availability note was included in the published matchup research.

Recent head-to-head

No completed head-to-head result is available in the current history window.

Final result

Matchup pick recap

North Carolina Tar Heels defeated SMU Mustangs 82-67

North Carolina Tar Heels defeated SMU Mustangs 82-67 on January 7, 2025, a 15-point decision in the series. North Carolina Tar Heels' strongest period was the 1st half, when it outscored its opponent 39-24. Against SportsJaw's recorded SMU Mustangs +6.5 (-110) spread, North Carolina Tar Heels covered, while the 149 combined points finished under the recorded total of 165.75.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerNo published selectionUnavailable

Tipster picks

  • MaddogSpread · North Carolina Tar Heels +6.5 (-110)Win
  • JtphamSpread · North Carolina Tar Heels -6.5 (-110)Win
  • DoclocksTotal · Over 166.5 (-110)Loss
  • CoolioSpread · North Carolina Tar Heels -6.5 (-110)Win
  • CoolioTotal · Over 166.5 (-110)Loss
  • OddssharkSpread · North Carolina Tar Heels -6.5 (-110)Win
  • OddssharkTotal · Over 166.5 (-110)Loss