Who will win the Kentucky-North Carolina game? Here’s what the experts are thinking.

Two of college basketball’s blue bloods will meet in Atlanta on Saturday evening for the latest battle in an entertaining rivalry.

No. 14 Kentucky plays No. 9 North Carolina in State Farm Arena, the main event in the 2023 edition of the CBS Sports Classic and the 43rd meeting between the Wildcats and Tar Heels, two of the sport’s most-storied programs.

UNC holds a 25-17 advantage over UK — the most lopsided of any Wildcats’ opponent — but Kentucky has a 7-4 record in the series since John Calipari arrived as head coach, including a 98-69 victory in this game two years ago. (That Carolina team rebounded to advance to the national title game three months later, while UK was bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a 2 seed.)

Both teams appear to have realistic Final Four hopes this time around, and Kentucky and North Carolina boast two of the nation’s best offenses, setting the stage for a possible shootout Saturday.

The Herald-Leader asked college basketball media members from Kentucky, North Carolina and others who cover the sport nationally to handicap this top-15 matchup. Here’s what they’re thinking heading into the latest CBS Sports Classic clash.

Kentucky-North Carolina basketball predictions

John Clay, Herald-Leader: Kentucky 75, North Carolina 72 — Two teams excellent on offense, suspect on defense, but Kentucky’s athleticism wins in the end.

Mark Story, Herald-Leader: Kentucky 96, North Carolina 89 — In a matchup of two of the nation’s top 25 scoring teams, UK is the team with the deeper bench and the greater variety of scoring options.

Ben Roberts, Herald-Leader: Kentucky 81, North Carolina 74: UK is deeper, more athletic and the addition of Aaron Bradshaw gives them a different look, especially defensively. In a game filled with offensive weapons, Kentucky has more of them, and that gives the Cats a little more room for error.

Cameron Drummond, Herald-Leader: Kentucky 86, North Carolina 76 — In a game crying out for another promising Kentucky freshman to finally make his star turn, it’s Justin Edwards who finally plays with the assertiveness and aggression that John Calipari has been asking for all season. Edwards drops 22 points and Aaron Bradshaw does a credible job on Armando Bacot around the rim to seal a needed signature win for UK.

Tommy Ashley, Inside Carolina: North Carolina 85, Kentucky 81 — I think Harrison Ingram is big for Carolina in this game. He’s the only guy that can present a matchup problem. And RJ Davis continues his hot streak.

Greg Barnes, Inside Carolina: Kentucky 83, North Carolina 77 — I think this is a game, specifically, of matchups. North Carolina has the advantage in the frontcourt. Kentucky has the advantage in the backcourt. And when you look at how some of the struggles for North Carolina on the defensive end have shown up thus far this year, I think Kentucky is just too effective with their guard play.

Rodd Baxley, The Fayetteville Observer: North Carolina 84, Kentucky 82 — This game won’t lack offense. The Tar Heels are 2-0 against the SEC, including a home win against Tennessee. UNC has more experience against big-time opponents this season, so I’ll take the Heels in a close one.

Ryan Black, Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky 83, North Carolina 79 — In a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair featuring numerous lead changes and swings in momentum, Kentucky’s youthful squad comes through, making clutch plays down the stretch of a narrow win. Aaron Bradshaw outduels Armando Bacot, each posting a double-double.

Jeff Borzello, ESPN: Kentucky 87, North Carolina 86 — Points, points, points. Both teams can really score, love to push the ball in transition and can leave something to be desired defensively. With Aaron Bradshaw back, Kentucky has more size to throw at Armando Bacot, and I like the Wildcats’ guards — and their shooting — in an up-and-down game.

Rob Dauster, Field of 68: Kentucky 93, North Carolina 91 — Regardless of who wins this game, I think we’re in store for one of the most entertaining 40 minutes of basketball we’ve seen in years. Remember when Malik Monk went for 47 and Kentucky beat the Tar Heels 103-100? Yeah. Something like that. Two teams that want to run, that love quick shots and that are defense averse? Sign me up.

Luke DeCock, The (Raleigh) News & Observer: North Carolina 84, Kentucky 75 — First and foremost, I wish they would move this game back to home sites, alternating between Rupp and the Smith Center. UNC’s losses are to teams that can outplay it in the post. I don’t see Kentucky doing that.

Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News: North Carolina 82, Kentucky 78 — Most likely I would have a different viewpoint on this game if Aaron Bradshaw were about to play his 13th game rather than his third, and if he also had Ugonna Onyenso there to back him up and provide an extra five fouls. I saw first-hand — I was seated behind the Kansas basket in the second half of the Champions Classic — how Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams wore down UK’s front line. I suspect Armando Bacot is prepared to do the same here.

Brett Friedlander, SaturdayRoad.com: Kentucky 78, North Carolina 72 — This is a tough game to predict, because a lot depends on which UNC team shows up. If the Tar Heels are able to dictate tempo, use their speed and athleticism the way they did during their first-half blitz against Tennessee, they’re tough to beat. But if they’re forced into a physical halfcourt game, the way Tennessee did to them in the second half and UConn did to them in New York last week, they tend to struggle. Especially when their perimeter players aren’t knocking down shots. This is a much better UNC team than last year thanks to the addition of Harrison Ingram and freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau. But if it comes down to a possession or two at the end, I’ve got more faith in Cal than Hubert Davis.

Aaron Gershon, The Cats’ Pause: North Carolina 90, Kentucky 83 — With Miami struggling, this will be Kentucky’s biggest test since the Kansas game. UNC is an experienced team with a superstar in RJ Davis and elite rebounding big Armando Bacot. I don’t love this matchup this early in the year for the Cats, so I’m picking the Tar Heels, but UK proved against Kansas it can hang with anyone.

Jeremiah Holloway, Inside Carolina: Kentucky 92, North Carolina 88 — The Wildcats have an arsenal of scorers that North Carolina will have to account for, and they also move the ball well on that end of the court. RJ Davis is on a roll for the Tar Heels, and Harrison Ingram has been a great addition as an all-around player. This game looks to be a close, high-scoring one, but Kentucky’s outside shooting gives it the slight edge.

Brendan Marks, The Athletic: North Carolina 86, Kentucky 81 — So, uh, first to 100? In what should be a defense-optional sort of game, I actually like North Carolina’s matchup with the Wildcats. In Armando Bacot, the Tar Heels have the true post presence Kentucky doesn’t, and diminutive guards RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau aren’t at a massive size disadvantage against UK’s backcourt.

Evan Miyakawa, EvanMiya.com: North Carolina 81, Kentucky 80 — Both teams are extremely similar in profile — they like to play fast, with a great offense and a passable defense. UNC’s offense being ranked better than Kentucky’s by the slimmest of margins nudges this game slightly in UNC’s favor right now.

Matt Norlander, CBS Sports: Kentucky 75, North Carolina 71 — I think this matchup is even better than we thought it might offer as recently as a month ago. Neither team has everything buttoned up, but the emergence of Aaron Bradshaw and his battle with Armando Bacot is intriguing. The backcourt battles could swerve either team into a victory. I trust Kentucky’s spurtability a bit more, and that’s why I lean with them winning an entertaining 40-minute game.

Gary Parrish, CBS Sports: Kentucky 81, North Carolina 80 — I think these are comparable teams. It’s not hard for me to imagine either making the Final Four. But I’ll give the edge in this one to Kentucky, largely because I assume the Wildcats will have what amounts to a meaningful crowd-advantage in Atlanta.

Jack Pilgrim, Kentucky Sports Radio: Kentucky 83, North Carolina 78 — Senior RJ Davis has been on a heater and Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram is a tough cover, but Armando Bacot will be the difference. Limit him on the glass and Kentucky’s guards should have enough firepower to push the Cats across the finish line with a close win.

Jon Rothstein, CBS Sports: Kentucky 79, North Carolina 75 — The Tar Heels are playing great basketball and have a terrific three-headed monster of RJ Davis, Harrison Ingram, and Armando Bacot, but this game will ultimately reiterate Kentucky’s long-term ceiling. Expect the Wildcats’ perimeter — especially Reed Sheppard — to be the difference down the stretch.

Kyle Tucker, The Athletic: Kentucky 85, North Carolina 80 — It’ll be a shootout, because both these teams can score (UNC dropped 100 on a really good Tennessee defense!) but neither is great on the defensive end. Had Aaron Bradshaw not come back and looked really good already ahead of this meeting with Armando Bacot, I’d have taken the Tar Heels. But I think UK has just enough of a talent and shooting edge.

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