Duke Blue Devils @ North Carolina Tar Heels Free Pick

The Tar Heels can’t be this bad, can they? It’s hard to speak from a neutral corner, considering I hate Duke and have only one true love in all of sports, and that’s Carolina Basketball. And being a Carolina fan, I can definitely see the side that picks the Heels to win or cover this spread, and it wouldn’t stun me, that’s for sure.

This is the Tar Heels’ season. Rather they want to hear that or not, I don’t care, it is what it is. If the Heels can slap a loss on Duke’s record, that would be their 3rd win over a Top 10 opponent so far this season, and they would be 14-0, and on their way back from the ACC basement. Sure, they would have lots of work left to do, but the Heels need this win like you need air, like a fish needs water, and certainly like a defending national champion headed for the NIT needs to figure it out.

The Devils have also played poorly on the road, winning 2 of their last 5 away from Cameron Indoor, and both of those were against suspect teams and the games were close. Plus, the Heels are talented. Maybe not as talented as many thought, but the youngsters they have, plus a handful of the older guys, a talented NBA body big like Ed Davis – shoot, how is this team near the bottom of the ACC and just 13-10 on the season again?

But wait, I need to look at this from a different angle or I might just pick the Tar Heels. Regardless of how bad the Dukies have played on the road, they are playing at North Carolina here, it’s just not another road game. I don’t think Duke will have much trouble getting up for this game, and after getting swept by the Heels last season, I think some redemption song is about to be sung – if you get my drift.

I’ll slam it home with this… The Tar Heels haven’t looked bad lately, they’ve looked terrible. Maryland iced them by 20 points and the Terps are a one-man team. This is NC-Duke so anything can happen, and you can bet I’ll be hoping I’m wrong, wrong, wrong. But if I was a betting man – well, you know the rest. Highlighting my pick is bad enough, I’m not going to say it out loud.

Duke Blue Devils (-5.5) @ North Carolina Tar Heels (9:00pm ET, 2-10)