North Carolina vs SMU College Basketball Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for Jan. 3

The SMU Mustangs (11-2, 0-0 ACC) will host the North Carolina Tar Heels (13-1, 1-0 ACC) after winning nine straight home games.

Before you place your bet on this matchup at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are the NCAA basketball odds and spreads you need to know.

North Carolina vs. SMU Game Info and Odds

• Game day: Saturday, January 3, 2026
• Game time: 2:15 p.m. ET
• TV channel: The CW Network
• Location: Dallas, Texas
• Arena: Moody Coliseum

North Carolina is a 1.5-point favorite over SMU on Saturday and the total has been set at 156.5 points. Here's some betting insights and trends to help you make an informed wager on the contest.

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North Carolina vs. SMU: ATS Betting Stats and Trends

• North Carolina has covered eight times in 14 chances against the spread this season.
• SMU has covered six times in 13 chances against the spread this season.
• North Carolina (7-5) covers a higher percentage of games when it is favored by 1.5 points or more this season (58.3%) than SMU (2-2) does as a 1.5+-point underdog (50%).
• The Tar Heels covered the spread in a higher percentage of their home games than away games last season. They covered seven times in 15 opportunities when playing at home, and they covered four times in 12 opportunities on the road.
• The Mustangs were better against the spread away (5-6-0) than at home (7-10-0) last year.

North Carolina vs. SMU: Moneyline Betting Stats

• North Carolina has been named as the moneyline favorite 11 times this year and has yet to lose any of those games.
• The Tar Heels have been a -104 moneyline favorite on 11 occasions this season and won every game.
• SMU has won 50% of the games this season it was the moneyline underdog (2-2).
• The Mustangs have gone 2-2 when they have played as a moneyline underdog with odds of -115 or longer (50%).
• North Carolina has an implied victory probability of 51% according to the moneyline set by oddsmakers for this matchup.

North Carolina vs. SMU Head-to-Head Comparison

• Last season, North Carolina was 29th in the country offensively (80.7 points scored per game) and 261st on defense (74.7 points allowed).
• North Carolina collected 33.2 rebounds per game and gave up 31.2 boards last season, ranking 105th and 182nd, respectively, in college basketball.
• Last season North Carolina was ranked 93rd in college basketball in assists with 14.7 per game.
• North Carolina committed 10.5 turnovers per game last year and forced 10.2 per game, ranking 120th and 288th, respectively, in the nation.
• SMU ranked 40th in college basketball last season with 79.9 points per game. At the other end of the court, it ranked 152nd with 71.3 points allowed per contest.
• SMU averaged 34.7 boards per game (43rd-ranked in college basketball). It gave up 29 rebounds per contest (53rd-ranked).
• Last year SMU ranked 42nd in college basketball in assists, putting up 15.9 per game.
• Last year SMU averaged 11.5 turnovers per game (221st-ranked in college basketball) and forced 12 turnovers per contest (112th-ranked).

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