As North Carolina players were cutting down the nets at Charlotte Bobcat Arena in Charlotte, N.C. following their winning the ACC tournament on Sunday, there was little doubt the NCAA tournament selection committee would seat the Tar Heels No. 1, but there was the question of; where they start as number one? Will the tournament selection committee keep the Heels near home?
When the seeds and pairings were announced Sunday night, Tar Heels players could officially celebrate their top-seeding and won’t have to go far to start. North Carolina will take on the winner of Tuesday’s play-in game between Mount St. Marys and Coppin State in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday.
Mount St. Mary’s of the MAAC is favored in the play-in game over Coppin State of the MEAC by a 7 point chalk with a 126 total according to online sportsbook Bodoglife.com.
Assuming the Tar Heels get past the St Mary’s/Coppin State winner, the road will get more serious as they will face the winner of the (8) Indiana/ (9)Arkansas match-up. Both the Hogs and Hoosiers have the size, athleticism and experience to give the Tar Heels problems. Indiana is favored by a slim 1 ½ -point chalk in its game with Arkansas.
If North Carolina wins its first two rounds they would go to the regional semi-finals in Charlotte, N.C. to play one of the winners coming out of the Denver sub-regional on Thursday. At Denver, 5-seed Notre Dame plays (12)George Mason and (4)Washington State takes on (13)Winthrop.
No. 2 seed Tennessee will be favored to win the Birmingham East regional sub-division but it won’t be easy. If the Vols get past their opening round game against American University as expected to do, they would play the winner of the Butler/South Alabama game.
Also in Birmingham, 3-seed Louisville faces (14) Boise State and (6) Oklahoma will play (11) Saint Joseph’s.
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East Regional First Round Odds (Bodoglife.com)
Tuesday
Dayton, Ohio (play-in game)
Mount St. Mary’s -7.0 vs. Coppin State
Thursday
Denver, Colo.
(5) Notre Dame -7.0 vs. (12) George Mason 9:50
(4) Washington State -8.5 vs. (13) Winthrop 7:20
Friday
Raleigh, N.C.
(1) North Carolina OFF vs. Coppin St./Mt.St.Mary (winner) TBA
(8) Indiana -1 ½ vs. (9) Arkansas 9:40
Birmingham, Ala.
(6) Oklahoma -1.5 vs. (11) St. Joseph’s 7:10
(3) Louisville -13.0 vs. Boise State 9:40
(7) Butler -4.0 vs. (10) South Alabama 2:45
(2) Tennessee 20.0vs. (15) American 12:15
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