Elon Phoenix vs North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Picks & Predictions

Game outlook

The college basketball season kicks off with an exciting non-conference matchup between Elon Phoenix and the #9 North Carolina Tar Heels. I will provide a summary of each team's previous season, key players to watch, and offer picks and predictions for the upcoming game. The game is set for 9:00 ET at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC, with North Carolina favored by 27.5 points according to current betting lines.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Phoenix +4,000 | Tar Heels -40,000

Spread: Phoenix +27.5 (-110) | Tar Heels -27.5 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 151 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that North Carolina will win straight-up is 100%.

Elon Phoenix

Coach Billy Taylor is gearing up for his third season with the Elon Phoenix men's basketball team after a disappointing 2023-24 season. The team finished 13-19 overall and 6-12 in the Coastal Athletic Association, landing them in 11th place. Their season ended with a first-round upset in the CAA tournament. The team is predicted to finish 12th in the conference this season, with low expectations from both coaches and sports bettors. Junior guard TK Simpkins is the sole player to receive preseason recognition, leading the team in scoring, assists, and steals last season. The Phoenix currently have an offensive power ranking of 190 and a defensive ranking of 281, with their field goal and free throw percentages falling in the lower half of NCAAB rankings. On defense, Elon struggles to defend the three-pointer but performs well in rebounding. Overall, the team faces a tough road ahead as they look to improve on last year's performance.