North Carolina
North Carolina vs. VCU prediction: March Madness 2026 pick, odds, best bet for Round of 64
The North Carolina Tar Heels open the NCAA Tournament against the VCU Rams, one of the trendiest upset bets in the field.
According to BetMGM’s John Ewing, the Rams are the most-bet underdog to win outright among the 16 games on Thursday at +125 on the moneyline.
UNC enters this game as a 2.5-point favorite despite being the No. 6 seed in the South region. BYU, which will face Texas, is the only other team seeded sixth or higher with such a close spread.
This game is also being played in Greenville, SC, a little more than a three-hour drive from Chapel Hill. That drive would be about twice as long for VCU fans coming from Richmond, VA.
North Carolina vs. VCU prediction, best bet
Careful observers of college hoops know why VCU is getting so much love from the public ahead of March Madness.
UNC freshman Caleb Wilson won’t be available after breaking his thumb in practice; he was already missing in action with a left hand injury that happened in February. Wilson led North Carolina in points (19.8), rebounds (9.4), assists (2.7), steals (1.5) and blocks (1.4) and is likely going to be a top-three pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
Replacing all that production is nearly impossible, but UNC kept itself afloat, going 5-3 since he was sidelined. Knowing that he won’t return will certainly be on his teammates’ minds with the spotlight on them in Round 1.
The Rams, meanwhile, have been a well-oiled machine with a 16-1 record since early January. Their season-long metrics are impressive: 49th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and 35th in 3-point percentage. They have good shooters in their rotation and size up front with 6-foot-11 Lazar Djokovic.
Betting on College Basketball?
The Tar Heels also have size with 7-footer Henri Veesaar, who can score inside and is shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc. He’ll be a matchup problem for the Rams all game in pick-and-roll situations and can open up outside shots when he dives to the rim on those plays.
I also think UNC has the intangibles to avoid a potential upset. They are one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country and they don’t turn the ball over, which are two keys to limiting extra possessions.
The hype around VCU is understandable, but I think bettors are undervaluing the rest of this UNC team. Yes Wilson’s absence lowers the Tar Heels’ ceiling, but they have still performed well without him.
I’m fading the public and riding with UNC to cover the 2.5-point spread here.
The Pick: UNC -2.5 (-110, BetMGM)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Saturday, May 30, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 30 drawing
01-27-35-44-52, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 30 drawing
Day: 4-3-5, Fireball: 5
Evening: 8-3-5, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 30 drawing
Day: 6-6-7-3, Fireball: 6
Evening: 4-1-0-7, Fireball: 3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from May 30 drawing
04-05-07-31-39
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from May 30 drawing
02-05-28-37-42
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 30 drawing
05-14-22-28-30, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
North Carolina has landed what is seemingly the final major piece of its frontcourt for the 2026-27 season, multiple sources have confirmed. Alexandros Samodurov announced his commitment to the Tar Heels on Saturday by way of Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.
The 6-foot-11 Greek native will bring international experience and an advanced skillset to a UNC program that was still looking to add a starting-worthy big man to its rotation. He’ll join 18-year-old 7-footer Sayon Keita, who committed to UNC a month ago, to man most of the minutes in the middle.
Now 21 years old, Samodurov plays for Panathinaikos in Greece’s top pro league, and also in EuroLeague. This is the same professional club as fellow Greece national team standout and UNC transfer commitment Neoklis Avdalas.
Samodurov earned All-Star honors with the Greece U20 National Team last summer, averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks at the FIBA U20 Eurobasket. He also averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds playing for the Greece Senior National Team last year.
>>> Expert Analysis: Samodurov Addition All About Stretch Big Skill Set for UNC
“The Panathinaikos forward has always been an intriguing prospect with his combination of elite size, ball-handling ability and flashes of passing, shooting and defensive playmaking,” said a FIBA report from the Eurobasket event.
Samodurov declared for the NBA Draft but the league announced on May 28 that he had withdrawn his name. He was ranked the No. 41 draft prospect in The Athletic’s Mock Draft and is No. 72 on ESPN’s Big Board.
New coach Michael Malone has been tasked over the past two months with overhauling the roster. Samodurov marks the seventh program acquisition, joining two previously committed high schoolers, and three returning players to form the 2026-27 roster.
Whether Samodurov or Keita start at center remains to be seen, but the other members of the starting lineup when UNC’s season opens in six months on Nov. 2 are expected to be Utah transfer Terrence Brown, NC State transfer Matt Able, Virginia Tech transfer Avdalas and returning forward Jarin Stevenson.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — A Murphy, North Carolina man with prior felony convictions was sentenced this week after authorities say he was caught with a large cache of illegal drugs and firearms.
44-year-old John Anthony Barreiro of Murphy was sentenced Thursday to 22 years in prison and ordered to serve five years of supervised release, according to an announcement from Russ Ferguson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Authorities say Barreiro illegally possessed 15 firearms along with more than 1,600 fentanyl pills and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to court documents, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Barreiro’s vehicle on Dec. 4th, 2023.
Authorities say Barreiro fled instead of stopping, leading to a vehicle pursuit.
Court documents show that during the chase, Barreiro threw a Glock 9mm pistol out of the passenger-side window.
Authorities say he later threw a bag out of the same window containing more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder and cocaine.
Law enforcement later recovered the firearm and the drugs, according to court records.
After throwing the gun and drugs from the vehicle, authorities say Barreiro pulled over and was arrested.
Investigators say they found additional clear baggies with suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the vehicle and on Barreiro.
Authorities also say Barreiro had $7,840 in cash, marijuana, a loaded Glock 30-round capacity magazine and a bag containing multiple loose rounds of 9mm ammunition in the vehicle.
Later the same day, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Murphy home where Barreiro was known to reside.
Law enforcement seized 14 firearms, 1,450 fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder, cocaine and almost 500 grams of methamphetamine, authorities say.
Barreiro had prior convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Barreiro pleaded guilty on Sept. 26th to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
He was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on Thursday.
Barreiro remains in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
-
North Dakota4 minutes agoThe God who blesses all people
-
Ohio7 minutes agoUCLA Could Flip Top 2027 QB Away From Ohio State
-
Oklahoma12 minutes agoThree Areas Oklahoma Needs to Improve in Order to Win a Title
-
Oregon19 minutes agoOregonians can go crabbing, fishing fee-free for 1 weekend in June
-
Pennsylvania22 minutes agoPennsylvania man rubs raw chicken on door, dumps oil on vending machine: police
-
Rhode Island27 minutes ago9 Offbeat Rhode Island Towns To Visit In 2026
-
South-Carolina34 minutes agoClyburn’s redistricting win fuels SC’s pitch to keep early primary position. An army of influencers are helping.
-
South Dakota37 minutes agoSouth Dakota State baseball loses to Arizona State, season ends
