Hubert Davis led the Tar Heels to the national championship game as a rookie HC. As a result, that set future expectations too high as UNC missed the Big Dance in 2023, lost in the Sweet Sixteen in 2024, and was underwhelming in the current campaign. Still, the North Carolina College Basketball odds brand resonates with the betting public. Davis was touted as the perfect man to replace Roy Williams as head coach of North Carolina. Davis was a Tar Heel player and assistant coach. Thus, he knows the North Carolina culture better than anyone else would.
2025 NCAA Tournament First Four Game San Diego State Aztecs vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
| Date and Time: | Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 9:10 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | UD Arena, Dayton, OH |
| TV Coverage: | truTV |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | -4 -115 | 142 -110 | -183 |  |
| San Diego State | +4 -105 | 142 -110 | +163 | |
| ||||
San Diego State Aztecs Team Overview
Late on, San Diego State has covered two of its previous six games and has gone over the offshore betting total in five of its last seven outings. Nick Boyd is first among San Diego State scorers with 13.4 points per game.
Overall, the San Diego State Aztecs are 21-9 straight up, 12-16 against the spread, and 14-13-1 over/under the total. San Diego State has national metrics of 251st for scoring offense, 192nd for field goal percentage, 214th for 3-point field goal percentage, 330th for free throw percentage, and 174th for offensive rebounding. While defensively, San Diego State is 14th for scoring defense, 3rd for field goal percentage permitted, 25th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 192nd for defensive rebounding.
North Carolina Tar Heels Team Overview
Late on, North Carolina has covered eight of its previous nine games and has gone under the college basketball lines total in four of its last five outings. First among North Carolina scorers is RJ Davis, with 17.0 points per game.
Overall, the North Carolina Tar Heels are 21-12 straight up, 12-19-1 against the spread, and 16-15 over/under the total. North Carolina has national metrics of 24th for scoring offense, 34th for field goal percentage, 102nd for 3-point field goal percentage, 113th for free throw percentage, and 121st for offensive rebounding. While defensively, North Carolina is 294th for scoring defense, 172nd for field goal percentage permitted, 254th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 184th for defensive rebounding.
Namely, Kon Knueppel scored 17 points. No. 1 Duke, playing without star freshman Cooper Flagg, held on after building a 24-point lead, beating North Carolina 74-71 in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinals. North Carolina botched a late free-throw situation that could have given it the lead.
Meanwhile, Duke’s Khaman Maluach had 13 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. And then Sion James added 12 points. Patrick Ngongba II’s season-high 12 points off the bench were also a boost for the Blue Devils.
Flagg missed his first game of the season after suffering a sprained ankle in the first half of Thursday’s quarterfinal win against Georgia Tech. In turn, Ven-Allen Lubin poured in 20 points, and Elliot Cadeau had 15 for fifth-seeded North Carolina. UNC lost for the second time in its last 10 games. Both defeats have come to Duke.
San Diego State vs. North Carolina SBG Free Picks
On this occasion, San Diego State offers more value. North Carolina has erratic metrics and too much casual sector brand recognition.
San Diego State vs. North Carolina SBG Best Bet: San Diego State Aztecs.