The Wisconsin Badgers (17-12) take on the North Carolina Tar Heels (18-10) in a Friday night showdown that has the feel of a Sweet Sixteen thriller. 2021 has been a strange season for these two teams, though. It's officially March Madness, aka the NCAA Tournament. In turn, let’s continue our NCAA Odds series and make a Wisconsin-North Carolina prediction and pick.

Who would've predicted this to be a round-1 eight versus nine seeded matchup? Not many. However, that is what we have on our hands as we look to capitalize on an even matchup according to the spread. You will come to learn that it may not be as even as one may think.

Here is how the sportsbooks are lining up this one:

NCAA Odds: Wisconsin-North Carolina Odds

Wisconsin Badgers +1.5 (-110)

North Carolina Tar Heels -1.5 (-110)

Over 139 Points (-11o)

Under 139 Points (-110)

Why Wisconsin Could Cover The Spread

The Wisconsin Badgers do not enter this game as hot as many other teams in the nation. They come into the tournament losing six of their past eight games to end the season, going 2-5-1 ATS over that stretch. At least all six of those losses were against nationally-ranked teams. Let's give this team the benefit of the doubt, given their track record in this tournament. They're a team that always possesses Elite Eight to Final Four potential. In what we know is a clean slate and an unpredictable tournament, turn to their past for some added faith.

Their recent struggles may be a bit deceiving when you dissect them. The Badgers do have a bright spot on their resume as they enter the tournament as the best team in the nation in terms of turnovers-per-game. They average less than nine turnovers, which could prove very fruitful in a high-energy affair. Teams that don't turn the ball over don't typically beat themselves. In the Big 10 title game, Wisconsin had an uncharacteristic 14 turnovers, with seven of those coming in the final eight minutes. Had they stayed true to their ways and hung onto the ball more, they probably would've won a nail-biter against a two-seed in the Iowa Hawkeyes. The final score of that game was a 62-57 loss for the Badgers.

Why North Carolina Could Cover The Spread

This North Carolina team enters March Madness on a hot streak. You always want to enter this tournament playing well of late. The Tar Heels are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine and have beaten Duke, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech along the way. They've been an inconsistent and unpredictable team this season, but also possess a solid track record in this tournament in their program's history. Going 16-5 ATS as a favorite this season, they are in a perfect spot to cover yet again as the favorite in this matchup.

This team abuses teams on the boards. They enter as the third-ranked team in the nation in terms of rebounding. They've won many games this season because of their ability to create second-chance points. You are going to win a lot of games if you are averaging sixteen OFFENSIVE rebounds per game. They possess a potent offense and a solid defense that should prove to be a bit too much for a wavering Badger team. They will look to take advantage of Wisconsin's record of 1-5 ATS as an underdog in 2021.

Final Wisconsin-North Carolina Prediction & Pick

It seems as if the Tar Heels are the pick to cover this generous spread on Friday night. The disparity is clear in this matchup, especially on the boards. Second chance points can kill a team's spirit and UNC is a monster at that. The Badgers recent struggles are concerning and it seems that the Tar Heels will have a boost of confidence coming in. Always ride the hot hand entering the dance and that is clearly in favor of North Carolina.

FINAL MARCH MADNESS PICK USING NCAA ODDS: North Carolina -1.5 (-110)