College Basketball Odds: Florida International at North Carolina

Florida Atlantic hopes to shock the world when they face North Carolina. (AP Images)

The North Carolina Tar Heels may have to fight it out for attention tonight even though they open their season as defending national champions.

That’s because the Heels’ opponent, the Florida International Golden Panthers, will be led by Isiah Thomas in his collegiate coaching debut.

College basketball odds have the Heels listed as large 31-point favorites.

A trip to the Dean Smith Center for the opener of the 2K Sports Classic won’t be the easiest way to start for Thomas.

The Golden Panthers faced two ranked teams last season, losing by 35 at UCLA and 38 at Georgetown.

No team could stay with the Tar Heels in the NCAA tournament last season, as North Carolina won six straight games by double digits to earn the program’s fifth national championship.

Who will fill the voids left by departed stars Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington this season in Tar Heel land?

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