In a thrilling matchup at Madison Square Garden, the North Carolina Tar Heels faced off against the UConn Huskies. The return of UConn's freshman guard, Stephon Castle, after a month-long absence added an extra layer of excitement to the game. Despite a challenging loss to Kansas on Friday, UConn entered this matchup as the favored team, and Castle's availability only amplified their confidence.

The backcourt duel between Elliot Cadeau and R.J Davis of the Tar Heels and Castle and Tristen Newton of the Huskies promised to be captivating throughout the evening. The key for the Tar Heels was securing victory in this guard battle, considering the anticipated challenges inside the paint. With the formidable presence of Donovan Clingan anchoring the Huskies' 10th-ranked 2-point defense nationally, the Tar Heels would have to rely on their guards to make an impact.

Carolina struggled from beyond the arc in their previous game against the Noles, and a repeat performance could prove costly in this matchup. UConn's defensive prowess, coupled with their ability to counter the Tar Heels' strong rebounding, made them highly optimistic about their chances of bouncing back from the loss to Kansas. Ultimately, the pick favored UConn with a spread of -5.5.

Meanwhile, in the NFL, the New England Patriots were set to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. The matchup between these two historically successful teams may not have lived up to past expectations, but it still carried intrigue. Both teams had struggled offensively throughout the season, with the Patriots averaging a league-worst 12.3 points per game. Even when their defense played well, the offense couldn't seem to find its rhythm.

The Steelers, led by quarterback Mitch Trubisky, had also struggled to put up points, with their 16.0 points per game ranking fifth-worst in the NFL. However, their defense had been the saving grace, allowing only 19.1 points per game. With such offensive challenges on both sides, the over/under for the game was set at a low 30 points. Despite the low number, it was difficult to expect a high-scoring affair on a short week.

Given the offensive struggles of both teams, the pick for this game leaned towards the under on BetMGM Sportsbook with the bonus code NYPNEWS1500. The expectation was that neither team would reach the 20-point mark, making the under a safe bet.

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