North Carolina Tar Heels vs Kansas Jayhawks Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 11/08/24

The North Carolina Tar Heels will travel to Lawrence on Friday night for a top 10 non-conference battle against the Kansas Jayhawks. This matchup between two blue-blood programs will surely be one the best games of a loaded weekend. It is the first top-10 matchup of the season and should deliver as one of the most electric environments we see all year. Both teams come into Friday night at 1-0 and will look to stay undefeated. Kansas is currently a -7.5 favorite and I like KU to cover that spread. The Jayhawks are the preseason #1 team in the country and they should prove it on Friday.

Kansas brings back one of the most dominant players in college basketball, 2023-24 All-Big 12 First Team selection Hunter Dickinson. The Tar Heels All-American big man, Armando Bacot, graduated last year and is no longer around to man the middle — so they will rely on less experienced players in the front court. I see that as a problem for North Carolina in this matchup and ultimately being the difference in the game. Jalen Washington and Jae’lyn Withers will be tasked with slowing down Dickinson, but considering they both averaged fewer than 13 minutes a game last season, I do not see that happening. Dickinson is in year 5 playing college basketball and I expect him expose the inexperienced North Carolina bigs and lead his team to a win and cover.

North Carolina vs Kansas prediction: Kansas -7.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -8.5.

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