Marquette vs North Carolina Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions

NCAA basketball odds have the Tar Heels as 3 favorites to progress, but Marquette is always a tough matchup.

Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and March Madness Odds for Marquette vs North Carolina. We’ve plenty of predictions for you to consider

Marquette Seeking Divine Inspiration

The Marquette Golden Eagles ended the regular season with a 19-12 record, which isn’t setting the world on fire.

They suffered a 74-63 loss to Creighton as -3 favorites, so it was a disappointing Big East tournament loss, but the inconsistent effort is par for the course.

Marquette has failed to win consecutive games since January and during that time is 3-7 against the spread, so bettors haven’t been cashing with the sportsbook.

The Golden Eagles are 16-15 ATS, so we’re not surprised by the +3 number. Playing at a neutral venue could help their chances, especially against the North Carolina Tar Heels, who are 1-4 on neutral courts.

The key to success for Marquette is defense, which ranks 226th in points allowed per game. It’s not an attractive statistic and a key reason why the Golden Eagles are in danger of being knocked out in the first round.

Deep Run Awaiting North Carolina?

It’s obvious to see the North Carolina Tar Heels have the potential to go a long way in the NCAA Tournament.

March Madness betting is keeping the Tar Heels safe in the market for the title, but bettors are getting a favorable line against the Marquette Golden Eagles.

We thought they would be around -5 to beat Marquette despite losing to Virginia Tech 72-59. It was a down performance from the -3 favorites, but it followed an excellent run of success for the perennial ACC power.

North Carolina defeated Duke, NC State, Syracuse and Virginia. Not only did the Tar Heels win, but they covered four consecutive spreads.

That form is exceptional against teams like Marquette, so it could be only a matter of time before the betting online market shifts.

Marquette vs North Carolina Head-to-Head

The most recent meeting came in February 2021, when the Marquette Golden Eagles won 83-70 in a big upset.

They were the +9½ underdogs, so they covered the spread easily and that could be playing on the minds of bookmakers.

Marquette vs North Carolina Game Information

• Game: Marquette Golden Eagles (19-12) at North Carolina Tar Heels (24-9)
• Location: Dickies Arena
• Day/Time: Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET
• Live Stream: TBS.com
• 2022 March Madness Bracket

Marquette vs. North Carolina Betting Lines

Marquette vs North Carolina Prediction

We think bettors are getting fantastic college basketball lines with the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Not only are we confident in their moneyline chances, but the Tar Heels should be covering the betting spread with ease.

Coach Hubert Davis loves the fight shown by his team down the stretch.

“All week, we just talked about our competitive fight,” Davis told ESPN, “that we had to do three things: We had to plant our feet, we had to stand our ground and we had to fight. … I just felt like, as the game went on, we started to just gain more and more confidence.”

They have beaten some of the best teams in college basketball, including a 94-81 win over Duke. The Blue Devils lost in the ACC title game, so the form checks out.

Marquette has been beaten by the likes of Creighton and DePaul over the two weeks, so it would need to play much better to keep the Tar Heels at bay.

We would entertain taking the Tar Heels -5. They are tournament-ready and their young stars can step up in the pressure moments.

Bookmakers have the total set at 151 points. We are leaning toward under 152, as the Tar Heels’ defense could stifle Marquette and force them to take bad shots.

Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels 3

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