Tonight’s game between North Carolina and Kansas will be broadcast on ESPN at 9pm EST.
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The Basics
The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN. If you don’t have cable or can’t get to a TV, you can still watch a live stream of the game on your computer, phone or streaming device by signing up for one of the following cable-free, live-TV streaming services:
What channel is the game on?
In order to find out what channel the game is on, you will need to consult your local listings. The game will be airing on either ESPN or ESPN2.
What time is the game?
The game is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, September 5th.
The Matchup
The North Carolina Tar Heels are set to take on the Kansas Jayhawks tonight in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. Both teams are evenly matched and it should be a close game. What channel is the game on?
Who’s favored to win?
As the NCAA tournament enters its second weekend, there are just four No. 1 seeds remaining.
In the South Region, top-ranked North Carolina will take on No. 5 Kansas in a battle of powerhouse programs Sunday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Tar Heels squeaked by Arkansas 72-65 in the Round of 32 on Saturday, while the Jayhawks routed Purdue 98-66 to set up this Elite Eight matchup.
North Carolina is a slight favorite over Kansas, with oddsmakers setting the Tar Heels’ odds at -2.5.
The total for Sunday’s game is set at 155 points.
Tipoff is set for 5:05 p.m. ET on CBS.
This will be the first meeting between North Carolina and Kansas since 2012, when the Jayhawks beat the Tar Heels 80-67 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
What are the odds?
The oddsmakers have set the line for this game and it currently sits at North Carolina -4. This means that oddsmakers think North Carolina will win by 4 points. However, the thing to keep in mind with point spreads is that oddsmakers are trying to set the line so that they get as close to an equal amount of money bet on each team. So, if everyone bets on North Carolina to win, then the sportsbook will lose money. In order to prevent this from happening, they will often times set the line a little bit in favor of the team that they think will be less popular among bettors. In this case, they have set the line in favor of North Carolina by 4 points.
The History
The two teams have a rich history, with the first game played in 1910. The two teams have met a total of 105 times, with North Carolina winning 74 of those games. The most recent meeting was in 2017, when North Carolina won 77-75. This will be the 106th meeting between the two teams.
How have the teams fared in the past?
In their only meeting last season, North Carolina won 79-53 at home. The Jayhawks have won four in a row in the series, including two in Chapel Hill.
What’s at stake in this game?
In this game, North Carolina is playing for a chance to go to the Final Four. If they win, they will most likely face off against Kentucky, who is also undefeated. North Carolina is currently ranked first in the country, while Kansas is ranked third. This will be a close game, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will come out on top.
The Keys to the Game
This game will be a matchup of two very evenly matched teams. North Carolina is coming in with a strong defense, while Kansas has a high-powered offense. Both teams will be looking to assert their dominance on the other side of the ball. The key to the game for North Carolina will be to pressure Kansas quarterback, forcing him to make mistakes. For Kansas, they need to protect the ball and keep the North Carolina defense on the field as much as possible.
What will be the key matchup?
The Jayhawks will look to avenge their loss from last season against the Tar Heels, but UNC will have revenge on their mind as well after losing to Kansas in the NCAA championship game. This year’s game will be a rematch of last year’s thrilling overtime contest, which saw the Jayhawks come out on top 103-100.
Both teams are expected to be in the mix for a title this season, so this game could very well be a preview of the NCAA championship game. The Tar Heels are currently ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, while the Jayhawks are No. 3.
The key matchup in this game will be between UNC’s Joel Berry II and Kansas’ Devonte’ Graham. Berry is the Tar Heels’ leading scorer at 17.1 points per game, while Graham is averaging 16.7 points and 7.2 assists for the Jayhawks. Both players are playmakers and scorers, so whichever one can get going early will likely give their team a big boost.
What will be the key to victory for each team?
Each team has their own unique strengths, which will be important in the matchup. For North Carolina, their size inside will be crucial. Their big men, Kyle Washington and Luke Maye, will need to protect the paint and rebound well against a smaller Kansas frontline. On the other side, the Jayhawks will need to rely on their outside shooting. They rank 3rd in the nation in three point percentage, and will need to knock down shots to take pressure off their big men inside. In addition, Kansas guard Devonte’ Graham will need to have a big game offensively. He is the Jayhawks’ leading scorer and will be counted on to create shots for himself and his teammates.
The Prediction
The Jayhawks are looking to salvage their season after a disappointing start while the Tar Heels are trying to maintain their early season momentum. This game could go either way but the Jayhawks have the edge. They are playing at home and have had extra time to prepare since their last game was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Who will win?
In terms of raw talent, North Carolina has a slight advantage over Kansas. The Tar Heels have five-star recruits at three key positions, while the Jayhawks have five-star recruits at just two positions. However, when it comes to experience, Kansas has the upper hand. The Jayhawks’ starting lineup features three seniors and two juniors, while North Carolina’s starting lineup features two seniors and three juniors.
It’s impossible to definitively say who will win this matchup, but the slight edge in talent and experience goes to Kansas. The Jayhawks are a well-rounded team that doesn’t have any major weaknesses, while the Tar Heels are a bit more reliant on their superstar players. If North Carolina can get production from its role players, they have a good chance of winning. However, if Kansas can contain North Carolina’s big guns, they should come out on top.
What will the final score be?
We’re less than 24 hours away from tip-off and the excitement is building for what should be a great game between two of the best teams in the country. The North Carolina Tar Heels are coming in as the heavy favorite, but don’t count out the Kansas Jayhawks.
Both teams have had an incredible season and it’s hard to say who will come out on top. But, we’ve consulted with our team of experts and they’ve given us their predictions for the final score.
So, without further ado, here are our predictions:
North Carolina: 84
Kansas: 82
