Florida State @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 3, 2018 ) North Carolina 80, Florida State 81

Florida State is battling hard for a top-four finish in the ACC to earn a double-bye in the conference tournament. The 17th-ranked Seminoles are sitting in that fourth spot after defeating Clemson 77-64 Tuesday, but they face a huge challenge on Saturday afternoon as they finish up their three-game roadswing at No. 9 North Carolina, which has won two in a row after manhandling fierce rival Duke 88-72 on Wednesday.

Florida State may catch a bit of a break, as it catches the Tar Heels just three days after that emotional win over the top-ranked Blue Devils. "There's no better feeling," North Carolina senior guard Kenny Williams told reporters. "It's just a whole bunch of joy around." The Tar Heels will need to regain their focus fast and they have proven vulnerable at home, where they have suffered their only two conference losses of the season, including a 69-61 loss to Virginia in their most recent game on their homecourt. The Seminoles have won their last four on the road and they come in as one of the nation's hottest teams after winning a school-record eight straight conference matchups, their last three by double digits.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (21-5, 9-4 ACC): Redshirt sophomore forward Mfiondu Kabengele (13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) has been a major force off the bench and produced his fourth career double-double in the win over Clemson, leading the team with 19 points (9-of-13 shooting) and 11 rebounds. Florida State has won the rebound battle in six of the last seven contests, posting double-digit margins in each of the past three, including a 43-32 advantage against Clemson. Star guard Terance Mann has increased his 3-point shooting, hitting 10 of his 23 long-distance shots during the team's eight-game winning streak.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (21-5, 11-2): The Tar Heels defeated Duke by dominating inside with 62 points in the paint to make up for surprisingly inept shooting from downtown (season-low 2-for-20). With Duke star Zion Williamson injured early, forward Luke Maye finished with 30 points and 15 boards to become one of just two Tar Heels (Billy Cunningham) to ever post 30 points and 15 rebounds against the Blue Devils, while guard Cameron Johnson drilled a career-high 11 field goals en route to 26 points, his eighth 20-point outing of the season. The Tar Heels limited the Blue Devils to 34.7 percent shooting from the floor and Duke wound up turning the ball over a season-high 20 times.

TIP-INS

1. North Carolina owns a 49-13 series lead after winning seven of the last eight matchups, but Florida State came out ahead last season, 81-80.

2. The Tar Heels entered the Duke game shooting 38.6 percent from long range.

3. The Seminoles bench has outscored its opponents' reserves 427-156 in ACC play.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 75, Florida State 70