UNC vs. Syracuse: How to watch, odds, picks, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

Tuesday night features a slate of exciting basketball matchups, including two ACC powerhouses facing off as North Carolina visits Syracuse. Ahead of the game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN, predictions and betting odds – including KenPom analytics – are coming in.

How to watch UNC vs. Syracuse

Tip-off: 9 p.m. ET

Location: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, New York

Channel: ESPN

Vegas odds

UNC is a 3.5-point favorite over Syracuse on Tuesday, according to VegasInsider. The over-under is set at 170 points.

ESPN BPI prediction

Predicted winner: North Carolina

Predicted point differential: 1.7

Win probability (for UNC): 56.3%

Matchup quality: 87.5

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a tool that measures team strength and uses that to predict outcomes of future performances. ESPN’s BPI has UNC vs. Syracuse ranked as the 2nd highest-rated game on Tuesday’s slate in terms of matchup quality.

KenPom prediction

Predicted final score: UNC 76, Syracuse 73

Win probability (for UNC): 59%

KenPom is another tool that provides advanced analysis across college basketball. Like ESPN, KenPom projects that UNC comes away with a victory over Syracuse.

UNC vs. Syracuse

Tuesday’s matchup features two ACC squads that currently have 6-3 conference records on the season. North Carolina is currently on a three-game winning streak and will be looking to extend it to four games on the road against Syracuse ahead of a week-long break following their game.

The Tar Heels have the ACC’s top-scoring offense, averaging an impressive 79.6 and featuring three of the conference’s top ten scorers in Armando Bacot, RJ Davis, and Caleb Love, all of which average over 16 or more points per game. Bacot also leads UNC’s rebounding charge, ranking No. 1 in the ACC in rebounds per game and No. 5 nationally, recently passing North Carolina legend Tyler Hansbrough as the all time rebounds leader in school history.

If the Heels want to leave Syracuse with a win, they’ll have to stop Joseph Girard III, whose 17.5 points per game ranks fifth in the conference. Girard also currently has the hot hand, fresh off of a 28-point outing versus Georgia Tech that featured six made three-pointers. Their defense, per usual, also presents problems and features the ACC’s leader in blocks and steals per game in center Jesse Edwards and freshman guard Judah Mintz.