Teams originally slated to play other opponents will clash when the North Carolina Tar Heels battle the No. 21 Kentucky Wildcats during the 2021 CBS Sports Classic on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Tar Heels (8-2) were originally scheduled to play UCLA, but the Bruins were unable to play due to health and safety protocols. The Wildcats (7-2) had the same issue with Ohio State, which ran into similar COVID-19 problems. 

Tipoff from T-Mobile Arena is set for 5:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Kentucky is favored by three points at Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points is set at 145 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page).

Before making any North Carolina vs. Kentucky picks, you NEED to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $2,400 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen HUGE returns.

The model knows Kentucky, which has won seven of their past eight games, is led by junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe, who is averaging 16.3 points per game. He also leads the nation in rebounds (14.4), offensive rebound percentage (25.2 percent) and offensive rebounds per game (6.1). He is connecting on 67.8 percent of his field goals, and has registered seven double-doubles. He is coming off a 25-point, seven-rebound effort at Notre Dame on Dec. 11.

The model also knows North Carolina has five players averaging in double figures, led by sophomore guard Caleb Love. Love is averaging 16.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He is hitting on 43.9 percent of his field goals, including 42.9 percent of his 3-pointers. He is also an 80.5 percent free-throw shooter. Love is a preseason candidate for the Bob Cousy Award for the nation's top point guard, and was a second-team preseason All-ACC selection by the ACC media.

Now, it has set its sights on North Carolina vs. Kentucky. It is leaning Under on the total and it also says one side of the spread hits in over 50 percent of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins North Carolina vs. Kentucky? And which side of the spread hits in over 50 percent of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the North Carolina vs. Kentucky spread you should be all over Saturday, all from the model on a roll on college basketball picks!