North Carolina vs Ole Miss Rebels Prediction & Picks - NCAA Basketball

Prediction published on 3/20/25, 9:06 AM  by Paul Tamayo | Modified on 3/20/25 at 9:56 AM in NCAA Basketball Picks

The 6th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels take on the 11th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Fiserv Forum.

North Carolina is coming off an impressive First Four win, defeating the San Diego State Aztecs, 95-68. The Tar Heels have won 9 of their last 11 games, with the two losses coming at the hands of the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils. During that span, they held their opponents to below 74 points eight times.

On the other hand, Ole Miss has lost five of their last eight games. Their offense hasn't been good lately in that span, emphasized by a lowly 57-point showing against the Auburn Tigers. In the last two games, leading scorer Sean Pedulla only averaged 11.5 points and a combined 1-12 shooting from the three-point line.

It doesn't help the Rebels' cause that Tar Heels star RJ Davis is fresh from a superb offensive night. In the Final Four win against the Aztecs, Davis put up 26 points, including an immaculate 6-6 clip from beyond the arc.

With momentum on their side, Davis and the Tar Heels have what it takes to escape the Rebels and proceed to the Round of 32.