Saint Peter's Peacocks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels: Elite Eight odds, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

A trip to the Final Four is on the line as No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s (22-11) and the No. 8-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels (27-9) battle in the NCAA Tournament’s second round on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Here’s how to watch, Vegas odds, ESPN BPI predictions and KenPom game predictions as well for both teams ahead of Sunday’s huge Elite Eight clash. 

How to watch Saint Peter’s vs. North Carolina

Time: 5:05 p.m. ET/4:05 p.m. PT

Channel: CBS

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Odds

Money line: North Carolina -385, Saint Peter’s +297.

Spread: North Carolina -8.5, -110. Saint Peter’s +8.5, -110.

Total: Over/Under 137, -110.

Check out the rest of Vegas’ odds ahead of Sunday’s college game day slate.

ESPN BPI predictions 

Matchup quality: 74.2%

Win probability: North Carolina, 81%

Predicted point differential: 9.4

The College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of performance going forward. BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Strength of Record (SOR) is a measure of team accomplishment based on how difficult a team’s W-L record is to achieve. 

Game predictions account for opponent strength, pace of play, site, travel distance, day’s rest and altitude, and are used to simulate the season 10,000 times to produce season projections. Numbers update daily,’ per ESPN.

For the rest of ESPN’s BPI predictions, click here.

KenPom predictions

Score prediction: North Carolina 72, Saint Peter’s 64. 

Win probability: North Carolina, 76%. 

Check out the rest of KenPom’s predictions for Saint Peter’s vs. North Carolina, and the rest of college basketball here.

Saint Peter’s vs. North Carolina Preview

North Carolina’s Caleb Love had one of his best performances of the season in the Sweet 16 against UCLA, scoring 30 points, including 27 in the second half, including two clutch 3-pointers in the final two minutes to help the Tar Heels advance to the Elite Eight.

Love is averaging 19.3 points per game on a 40 percent (18-45) field goal clip while making 43 percent (13-30) of his 3-point attempts. Despite scoring just five in UNC’s upset win over top-seeded Baylor, Love has scored 20-plus against Marquette and now UCLA.

Saint Peter’s is once again coming off a victory over a potential national title contender after defeating Purdue 67-64 on Friday. It was more of a team effort for the Peacocks against the Boilermakers, as seven players scored at least five points in the win.

The difference — the Peacocks don’t have anyone that can stop Love when he gets going. If he can repeat his performance from Friday, the Peacocks might find that Cinderella’s slipper is made of glass and could break at any moment. Carolina’s height might also pose a problem for Saint Peter’s in the rebounding margins.

Can Saint Peter’s take down yet another blue blood? If they want to make the championship game, they’ll have to go through North Carolina and then Duke. If any team is up to the challenge, it’s the fearless Peacocks.