UNC vs Boston College Odds & Prediction: Value on Underdog?

It's time to take a look at the UNC vs. Boston College odds and make a pick for Saturday's ACC college basketball game.

Only one team owns a perfect record in ACC play, and that’s the North Carolina Tar Heels (6-0). UNC is looking to keep that flawless record intact as it hits the road to face the Boston College Eagles.

Boston College (2-4) is in the bottom half of the ACC, but has some momentum after beating Notre Dame on Monday.

The Tar Heels are ranked No. 8 in the country, per KenPom, and are putting themselves in a great position to be a top-two seed in this season’s Big Dance. 

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Hubert Davis’ team enters Saturday’s action with a one-game lead over North Carolina State and Florida State for first place in the ACC. Both the Wolfpack and Seminoles have each lost one league game — to the Tar Heels.

UNC had covered six consecutive games and each of its past four ACC contests before failing to cover in an 86-70 home victory over Louisville on Wednesday. 

To be fair, the Tar Heels closed as 21-point favorites, the fourth time they've been a favorite of 20 or more points this season.

The past five conference wins have all come by double digits, including limiting N.C. State, Pittsburgh and Clemson to 57 points or fewer.

The senior duo of RJ Davis and Armando Bacot has combined for an average of 35 points per game this season. Davis leads the ACC at 20.4 points per contest and Bacot is pulling down a league-best 10.5 rebounds a game.

All three of UNC's losses this season came on neutral courts against blue-blood schools. Villanova tripped up North Carolina in overtime at the Battle 4 Atlantis in November, UConn beat the Tar Heels in New York and UNC also lost to Kentucky in Atlanta.

In ACC play, North Carolina owns some of the best numbers in the league. The Tar Heels are limiting opponents to 24% shooting from 3-point range and 42.9% shooting on 2-pointers. However, the Tar Heels rank 11th in conference play when it comes to shooting the 3-pointer (32.1%).

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Four teams, including Boston College, are tied with 2-4 records in ACC play. The Eagles' two victories came against Georgia Tech and Notre Dame, both of which are in the bottom half of the league standings.

The most recent victory came as a 9.5-point favorite in a 63-59 comeback victory over the Fighting Irish on Monday. Notre Dame built an early 31-19 lead before the Eagles outscored the Irish, 34-23, in the second half. 

Jaeden Zackery was held scoreless in a loss to Syracuse, but has posted solid performances in each of the past two games. Zackery scored 18 points in an 89-78 loss to Clemson before putting up 20 points in the win over Notre Dame.

Quinten Post, Boston College's leading scorer, missed the Clemson game with a stomach bug, but bounced back with 17 points against Notre Dame. Post has scored double-figures in every game he has played in this season and is shooting 44% from 3-point range.

The Eagles have slumped to a 1-5 against the spread record in their past six games with the lone cover coming as a short underdog at Georgia Tech. 

Boston College has been listed as a home underdog only once this season and lost 84-78 to Wake Forest as a one-point ‘dog. Last season, the Eagles went 3-0 ATS when priced as a home 'dog of eight or more points.

North Carolina has once again turned into a national power, but this is the biggest number the Tar Heels have had to cover on the road this season.

Boston College may not be one of the main contenders in the ACC, but the Eagles have been competitive as home underdogs.

The Eagles haven't defended the 3-pointer well in conference play as their opponents are shooting nearly 40% from deep, but UNC has struggled to shoot the 3 in ACC play.

Let's take the points with the home team and back Boston College.

Pick: Boston College +8.5 at DraftKings (Play to +7.5)