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UNC Basketball: Bracket trends, who picked Tar Heels to win it all

By Zack Pearson

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Coby White #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on against the Louisville Cardinals during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 14: Coby White #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on against the Louisville Cardinals during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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We take a look at some bracket trends for the UNC Basketball program as they tipoff their NCAA Tournament run on Friday night

The North Carolina Tar Heels begin their 2019 NCAA Tournament run on Friday night when they take no No. 16 Iona in the first round. The two teams will match up in the night cap at the Columbus site, the fourth game of the day and one of the final games of the first round.

UNC will enter this matchup favored by at least 24 points on most major betting outlets and overall, the Tar Heels are a trendy pick in brackets.

With millions of brackets filled out leading up to the tournament, a lot of people like the Tar Heels to win the tough Midwest Region and get to the Final Four. But they also like the Tar Heels to make the championship game and even win it all.

On ESPN, 77.5% of the brackets in their Bracket Challenge picked the Tar Heels to reach the Elite 8, 56.2% predicted them to reach the Final Four, 36.6% to reach the National Championship game and 15.8% picked them to win it all. The Tar Heels are second on each of those lists among overall teams, trailing only Duke.

The Blue Devils lead the way with 36.1% of the brackets picking them to win it all.

Many experts and analysts also made their picks with the majority of them picking the Tar Heels to reach the Final Four. Just like the ESPN entrants, a lot of people are picking UNC and Duke to meet in the finals.

But only two brackets from an analyst or expert actually has the Tar Heels winning it all and he went to Duke.

ESPN’s Jay Bilas picked the Tar Heels to beat Duke in the National Championship game and was one of a few people to do so from the outlet. Mike Greenberg, Rachel Lindsay, and Randy Scott all picked the Tar Heels. Former UFC fighter Chuck Liddell also picked the Tar Heels as a celebrity guest in the challenge.

In addition, Stephen A. Smith didn’t fill out his bracket publicly but he did reveal that the Tar Heels are the team to beat in a segment on ESPN.

The public loves the Tar Heels to reach the Final Four but it won’t be that easy. The Midwest Region is a tough one and includes Kansas, Auburn and Kentucky.

Next. 5 reasons why UNC can win it all. dark

For more on the UNC Basketball program and the NCAA Tournament, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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