By
Blake Roberts
Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 16 March 2022
Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief
Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.
Put on your dancing shoes, because the brackets are set for the 2022 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. Here’s your college basketball betting guide for the highly-anticipated first-round matchup between the eighth-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels (24-9) take on the ninth-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles (19-12).
The UNC Tar Heels had a great season en route to the eighth seed in the East region. They won a huge game against arch-rivals Duke at the end of the season.
However, they’re coming off a lopsided defeat to ACC Tournament Champions Virginia Tech, who also went on to rout Duke.
Marquette is coming off a huge season where they outperformed everyone’s expectations. Coach Shaka Smart has an impressive record in March, so this will likely be a close matchup, which the bookies are indeed predicting.
Will North Carolina rebound and take the victory, or will Shaka Smart’s Golden Eagles get a storybook ending to an improbable season? Before you decide, take a look at the best North Carolina vs. Marquette NCAA Tournament betting odds and sites.
UNC had a red hot end to the season. They went to the ACC Tournament semifinal before losing out to eventual champions Virginia Tech.
North Carolina’s success will depend on star Armando Bacot’s ability to control the paint. Bacot is averaging 16.5 points and 12.5 rebounds across 31.2 minutes per game.
If he can dominate the glass Marquette will need to hope their perimeter shots fall. UNC struggled against teams with range this season, so limiting Marquette’s three-point attempts will be key.
If you’re interested in betting on North Carolina against the spread, check out DraftKings Sportsbook NY. It has UNC pegged as three-point favorites, which is a half-point better than most bookies.
If you want to bet North Carolina straight up, DraftKings is also your best option at a generous -155 on the moneyline. That’s five cents better than its closest competitor, which is unusual for a recreational book like DK.
If you want to know about the site before you register, read our DraftKings review NY. We evaluated its app, bonuses, and live platform in extensive detail.
Marquette surprised everyone this season with stunning upsets over Villanova, Xavier, and Illinois that earned them their date with UNC at the Big Dance. They also kept it close in a heartbreaking two-point loss to Providence.
It’s Coach Shaka Smart’s first year with the team, and he’s got experience leading underdogs through big moments. He’s best known for taking VCU to the Final Four in 2011, knocking off Georgetown and Purdue in two massive upsets.
Since Marquette will likely lose out in the paint, they’ll have to neutralize UNC big-man Armando Bacot by relying on Justin Lewis to hit shots from range. Lewis is hitting 35.2% from three-point land and averages 17.1 points and 7.9 rebounds across 32.3 minutes per game.
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Golden Eagles | +3.5 (-110) | +140 | Bet Now |
If you’re betting on Marquette to cover the spread, check out BetMGM Pennsylvania. It’s got the Golden Eagles at +3.5, which is half a point more than you’ll find elsewhere so you can avoid the push.
Marquette moneyline bettors will also be happy with BetMGM, as the +140 moneyline is 10 cents better than average, though you can find that same value at other sportsbook sites in Pennsylvania.
Be sure to read our BetMGM review PA before you bet on Marquette so you can familiarize yourself with the site.
The Tar Heels and Golden Eagles are both fairly average teams in terms of pace, as the 87th and 48th fastest teams respectively. UNC’s defense is fairly solid, so Marquette may struggle to score if their jump shots don’t fall which is the risk of betting the over.
Marquette’s defense is suspect, so UNC will want to capitalize on the fact that Marquette’s opponents score 98.4 points against them per 100 possessions. That being said, the game is projected to be close, so overtime is always a threat for those taking the under.
We like Caesars Sportsbook in Michigan if you’re going to bet the North Carolina vs. Marquette over/under totals. Its line of 152 splits the difference of the bookmakers’ collective opinions.
| Team | Total | Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caesars | O132 (-110)U132 (-110) | Risk-Free First Bet Up to $1,100 | Bet Now |
Both teams have a long trip to Fort Worth, Texas, so the team that travels better will have a slight advantage.
Tipoff Time: 4:30 PM EDT (1:30 PM PDT)
The 2022 NCAA Tournament first-round matchup between North Carolina and Marquette will be played in the afternoon in Texas.
The game will be broadcast on TBS and live-streamed on cbssports.com. To access the live stream, log in through your TV provider.
The experts and bookmakers agree that this should be a closely fought contest. Though UNC has an advantage inside, they could struggle against Marquette’s skill outside.
There could be value on the moneyline on either side. It comes down to which team you think has the advantage. Marquette could easily win straight up, but UNC also has the skill to run away with it.
If you’re considering betting the UNC vs. Marquette spread, the value depends on how aggressive you want to be.
If you think Marquette will win but want some more safety, then take the extra three and a half points.
On the flip side, you could be aggressive and take North Carolina to cover for a slightly better payout.
Ultimately, your risk tolerance should decide how you want to wager on North Carolina vs. Marquette’s first-round matchup.
If you’re planning on visiting the Keystone State for some March betting madness, be sure to check out our PhillyVoice.com article on the best PA betting sites for the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
If you want more information about betting sites in your area, see our article on the best USA betting sites, or read our write-up on sports betting in America for a complete overview on gambling taxes, laws, and betting safety.
Betting Bill Fails to Get Past Alabama Conference CommitteeRead Article
Lisa SpencerMay 18, 2024
North Carolina Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban College Prop BetsRead ArticleLisa SpencerMay 15, 2024
November Referendum on Sports Betting Likely in MissouriRead ArticleLisa SpencerMay 13, 2024