The No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks head to Chapel Hill on Friday to face the No. 25 North Carolina Tar Heels. The Jayhawks have gone 5-0 straight up and 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings between these blue blood programs.
That said, my Kansas vs. North Carolina predictions are betting against that trend by backing UNC. See why in my best free college basketball picks for this marquee matchup on November 7.
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Kansas vs North Carolina prediction
Kansas vs North Carolina best bet: North Carolina moneyline (-130)
Both teams crushed bad mid-major schools in their season opener, with the Kansas Jayhawks smashing Green Bay 94-51, and the North Carolina Tar Heels beating Central Arkansas by a nearly identical score of 94-54.
There isn't much to take away from those games against overwhelmed foes except for the fact that a pair of highly-regarded freshmen won't have a hard time adjusting to the college level.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson (the No. 2 recruit per Rivals) had 21 points with three assists and four boards in 22 minutes. Meanwhile, UNC forward Caleb Wilson (the No. 5 recruit) dropped 22 points with three dimes and two boards in 25 minutes.
Kansas has a stud center in Flory Bidunga but he's the only true big in the rotation, while UNC has a jumbo starting lineup with the 6-foot-10 Wilson, 7-foot center Henri Veesaar, and another 6-foot-10 forward in Jarin Stevenson.
There isn't much separating these schools, which could make the atmosphere at Chape Hill the difference. Home-court advantage is significant in college, with teams often having a tough time knocking down perimeter shots and getting to the line in hostile territory.
The Jayhawks don't have many efficient outside shooters to begin with, so expect them to struggle from long range. With the Tar Heels likely shooting better from deep and controlling the glass with their superior size, back them to eke out a win at home.
Kansas vs North Carolina same-game parlay
Veesaar should get plenty of playing time tonight and will be a force on the glass for UNC. He averaged 5.0 rebounds per game coming off the bench for Arizona last season and had 10 boards in 25 minutes in the season opener.
Melvin Council snagged five rebounds in the Jayhawks opener and averaged 5.4 rebounds in 37.1 minutes per game with the Bonnies last year. That said, he's a 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard, and he'll have a tough rebounding at that rate against high-major schools, especially ones like UNC that have a ton of size.
Kansas vs North Carolina 3-leg SGP
- North Carolina moneyline
- Henri Veesaar Over 6.5 rebounds
- Melvin Council Under 5.5 rebounds
Our beyond the arc SGP: Peterson eclipses point total
I'm betting on UNC to get the win, but also expect Peterson to have a productive game. The Wooden Award favorite dropped 21 points in 22 minutes on Monday, and while he likely won't be as efficient, he should get significantly more playing time in a competitive game.
Kansas vs North Carolina 4-leg SGP
- North Carolina moneyline
- Henri Veesaar Over 6.5 rebounds
- Melvin Council Under 5.5 rebounds
- Darryn Peterson Over 18.5 points
Kansas vs North Carolina odds
- Spread: Kansas +2.5 | North Carolina -2.5
- Moneyline: Kansas +115 | North Carolina -130
- Over/Under: Over 159.5 | Under 159.5
Kansas vs North Carolina betting trend to know
The Jayhawks are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games away from home. Find more college basketball betting trends for Kansas vs. North Carolina.
How to watch Kansas vs North Carolina
| Location | Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC |
| Date | Friday, November 7, 2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Kansas vs North Carolina key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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