The No. 11 seed North Carolina Tar Heels take on the No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Friday. North Carolina comes into this game after a strong victory over San Diego State, winning 95-68 in the First Four matchup on Tuesday. With a record of 23-13, the Tar Heels are looking to make a deeper run this year.

The Rebels finished with a record of 22-11 but struggled, losing two of their last three games. The game is set to start at 4:05 p.m. ET and the latest odds show NC as 1.5-point favorites, with a total points over/under set at 155.5.

Before making any picks, be sure to check the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. This model simulates every Division 1 game 10,000 times and has been up nearly $2,000 on top-rated spread picks since 2023.

Why North Carolina Can Cover

RJ Davis is a key player for the Tar Heels, noted for his ability to lead offensively with an average of 17.3 points per game and an impressive performance recently where he scored 26 points against San Diego State. Teammate Elliot Cadeau has excelled as a floor general with strong assists and distribution, making 10-plus assists in three of his last six games.

Why Ole Miss Can Cover

Sean Pedulla is an integral playmaker for the Rebels, leading the team in scoring; he averages 14.7 points per game, and has achieved notable performances including 26 points in a recent game against Oklahoma. Additionally, Malik Dia has shown consistent scoring, adding depth to the frontcourt.

How to Make UNC vs. Ole Miss Picks

The model shows a predicted over total of 153 points combined for both teams. It identifies that a specific side of the spread has nearly a 60% victory rate in simulations. For more detailed insights, visit SportsLine now for picks.