Ohio State vs North Carolina

North Carolina rolls into Atlanta on a four-game winning streak while Ohio State has just restarted its own momentum with a single-game run after that double-overtime escape against West Virginia, and that contrast in current form plus the Tar Heels’ 10-1 mark versus the Buckeyes’ 8-2 record nudges this matchup toward the ranked favorite. With senior guard Seth Trimble freshly cleared from his broken-forearm layoff to rejoin a rotation that already features freshman star Caleb Wilson and twin 7-footers Henri Veesaar and Ivan Matlekovic, UNC’s length, depth and rebounding edge are a real problem for Bruce Thornton and an Ohio State group that has recently cooled from three and now faces one of the country’s stingier interior defenses. Add in that North Carolina is 3-0 against Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic, including the memorable 2022 overtime win, and the historical head-to-head edge supports the idea that the Tar Heels’ size and defensive ceiling travel well enough on this neutral floor to justify paying the -225 moneyline price even if it trims the potential return. I’m backing North Carolina on the moneyline at -225 and grading it a B pick for solid win probability with only modest monetary value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:39

Ohio State’s 87.6 points per game and North Carolina’s low-80s scoring clip have both fueled their current streaks (Buckeyes W1, Heels W4), but a deeper look at how those runs were built points me toward the under 154.5 rather than assuming another pure track meet. With UNC getting Trimble back to reinforce a perimeter rotation that already guards at a high level and protects the rim behind that massive front line, and with no major new absences reported for Ohio State, this game should see both teams near full strength, which actually benefits the Tar Heels’ desire to grind more half-court possessions. Historically, UNC has found ways to blunt Ohio State’s rhythm in this event — winning all three previous CBS Sports Classic meetings — and this version brings elite two-point defense and a heavy rebounding edge that can limit the Buckeyes’ shot volume, especially given OSU’s recent sub-30% stretch from three. Even with Bruce Thornton and Caleb Wilson capable of taking over stretches, a neutral NBA arena backdrop, North Carolina’s 64-points-allowed profile, and the Heels’ ability to control pace through their size all lean toward a slightly lower-possession, more physical contest than the raw offensive averages suggest, so I’ll take Under 154.5 at -110 with a B grade for a reasonable edge but not a massive mispricing. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:39

Caleb Wilson’s nightly double-double threat for North Carolina, paired with the Tar Heels’ four-game winning streak against increasingly solid competition versus Ohio State’s one-game streak after needing double overtime to edge West Virginia, nudges me toward laying the short -4 with the Heels rather than grabbing the Buckeyes plus the points. Trimble’s return from his forearm injury adds another downhill guard and on-ball defender to a rotation that already has size advantages nearly across the board, and with no comparable injury concerns on the Ohio State side, that health swing slightly favors UNC in both matchups and depth. Historically, this has been a tricky series for the Buckeyes — 0-3 against North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic and stung by that OT loss in 2022 — and now they’ve got to solve a Tar Heel defense that is elite inside the arc and backed by the nation’s tallest rotation, which is a tough ask for a smaller OSU lineup whose recent three-point struggles make them more dependent on contested drives and short midrange looks. Bruce Thornton’s shot-making and the Buckeyes’ generally efficient offense keep this from being a slam-dunk blowout call, but when I factor in UNC’s size, form, and reinforced backcourt, North Carolina -4 at -110 earns a B- grade as a mild value lean toward a two- or three-possession Tar Heel win. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:39