PREMIUM
Rogers' Sat Afternoon SWEEPER PASS
(NCAAB) Florida State vs. North Carolina,
Point Spread: 8.00 | -105.00 Florida State (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 8.00 | -105.00 Florida State (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Florida State is 16-1 (4-0 in ACC play) and will take its No. 9 ranking in the AP poll into Chapel Hill on Saturday afternoon to take on the 15-3 (3-1 in ACC Play) North Carolina Tar Heels, who are currently ranked 11th in the AP's latest poll. It seems strange, doesn't it, that FSU is the higher ranked team? More on that later.
Florida State: The Seminoles' only loss came back on Nov. 24, 89-86 to temple in the NIT Season Tip-Off at MSG. Tweleve wins in a row have followed, including three straight over ranked teams (at No.12 Va, then home against No. 21 Va. Tech & No. 7 Duke). Now ist at No. 11 North Carolina, with home games against No. 20 Notre Dame and No. 14 Louisville to follow! "We are just trying to take it one game at a time and not get ourselves caught up in anything other than what is going on in the moment," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton told reporters after Tuesday's 88-72 win over Duke. "That is how we try to approach it and I think our guys have matured with that philosophy." The Seminoles are scoring 86.7 PPG (13th) on 50.8% shooting (6th), led by a very deep perimeter group.Bacon (17.8 & 4.1) is the etam's leading scorer but he has plenty help on teh perimeter from guards Rathan-Mayes (11.1-3.4-4.6), Mann (9.4-4.9), Savoy (7.7), Walker (6.5) and Forrest (6.2). The team's best big man is the 6-10 Isaac (12.1 & 7.2) but note that four players have at least 16 blocks, led by 7-4 Christ Koumadje with 24.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels' offense rarely takes a backseat to any team, as North Carolina's high-powered team is averaging 89.3 PPG (6th) and has scored at least 90 points 10 times this season. All five starters scored in double figures in Wednesday's win over Wake Forest but the Tar Heels received only 10 points from their bench. 6-10 freshman Tony Bradley (8.1 & 5.9) is out for this one after suffering a concussion Wednesday and he'll be missed but a frontcourt of Jackson (17.7 & 4.9), Meeks (12.9 & 9.7) and Hicks (12.2 & 5.2) plus a backcourt of Berry (15.6 & 4.6 APG) and Williams (7.2) should be just fine.
The pick: FSU carries a school-record 12-game winning streak into this contest but the Tar Heels are 8-0 at home, outscoring lined opponents 91.9-to-61.4 PPG. This is only the 10th time in 61 all-time meetings that both teams are ranked when they meet. However, this is the first time that the Seminoles take the court as the higher ranked team in the only regular-season clash between the teams. With Roy Williams as the coach, this is the 17th time when an opponent will show up at the Smith Center with a higher ranking than the Tar Heels. However, Bradley's absence leaves a void in the lane for the No. 11 Tar Heels against FSU's size inside. Then there's FSU' depth on the perimeter. Take the points and make FSU an 8* play.
Florida State: The Seminoles' only loss came back on Nov. 24, 89-86 to temple in the NIT Season Tip-Off at MSG. Tweleve wins in a row have followed, including three straight over ranked teams (at No.12 Va, then home against No. 21 Va. Tech & No. 7 Duke). Now ist at No. 11 North Carolina, with home games against No. 20 Notre Dame and No. 14 Louisville to follow! "We are just trying to take it one game at a time and not get ourselves caught up in anything other than what is going on in the moment," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton told reporters after Tuesday's 88-72 win over Duke. "That is how we try to approach it and I think our guys have matured with that philosophy." The Seminoles are scoring 86.7 PPG (13th) on 50.8% shooting (6th), led by a very deep perimeter group.Bacon (17.8 & 4.1) is the etam's leading scorer but he has plenty help on teh perimeter from guards Rathan-Mayes (11.1-3.4-4.6), Mann (9.4-4.9), Savoy (7.7), Walker (6.5) and Forrest (6.2). The team's best big man is the 6-10 Isaac (12.1 & 7.2) but note that four players have at least 16 blocks, led by 7-4 Christ Koumadje with 24.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels' offense rarely takes a backseat to any team, as North Carolina's high-powered team is averaging 89.3 PPG (6th) and has scored at least 90 points 10 times this season. All five starters scored in double figures in Wednesday's win over Wake Forest but the Tar Heels received only 10 points from their bench. 6-10 freshman Tony Bradley (8.1 & 5.9) is out for this one after suffering a concussion Wednesday and he'll be missed but a frontcourt of Jackson (17.7 & 4.9), Meeks (12.9 & 9.7) and Hicks (12.2 & 5.2) plus a backcourt of Berry (15.6 & 4.6 APG) and Williams (7.2) should be just fine.
The pick: FSU carries a school-record 12-game winning streak into this contest but the Tar Heels are 8-0 at home, outscoring lined opponents 91.9-to-61.4 PPG. This is only the 10th time in 61 all-time meetings that both teams are ranked when they meet. However, this is the first time that the Seminoles take the court as the higher ranked team in the only regular-season clash between the teams. With Roy Williams as the coach, this is the 17th time when an opponent will show up at the Smith Center with a higher ranking than the Tar Heels. However, Bradley's absence leaves a void in the lane for the No. 11 Tar Heels against FSU's size inside. Then there's FSU' depth on the perimeter. Take the points and make FSU an 8* play.
