Kansas vs NC State Predictions, Odds & Betting Trends (Dec 13)

• The NC State Wolfpack are 2.5-point home favorites to the #19 Kansas Jayhawks
• NC State is a perfect 6-0 at home this season
• See below for my Kansas vs NC State prediction, odds, and recent betting trends

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The no. 19 Kanas Jayhawks (7-3, 0-1 away) are trying to avoid going 0-for the Carolinas when they hit the road to take on the NC State Wolfpack (7-3, 6-0 home) on Saturday.

Kansas has already dropped games to North Carolina and Duke, but the Wolfpack are trying to nail down their first signature win under new coach Will Wade. They’re slight 2.5-point favorites in the college basketball odds.

My Kansas vs NC State prediction has the Wolfpack’s offense doing just enough to get by a tough Jayhaws’ defense.

Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30pm ET from the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.

Kansas vs NC State Prediction

It’s been a rough go for the Jayhawks in the the North Carolina Research Triangle. They dropped an 87-74 decision to the Tar Heels on Nov 7, followed by a 78-66 whipping at the hands of the Duke Blue Devils on Nov 18.

They’ve righted the ship since then, picking four wins in the last five, including last game’s 80-60 thumping of Missiouri. KU still find themselves inside the Top 15 in the March Madness odds at +2000.

It’s not because of anything they’re doing offensively, as the team sits outside the Top 140 in all the major stats, including 74.6 points per game (273rd), 46.1% field goal shooting (155th) and 34% 3-point shooting (171st).

The Jayhawks bring a top-shelf defense to the table, limiting teams to 63.7 points (11th) on 37.5% shooting from the field (16th). They are also sixth in the nation at defending the arc, with teams shooting juts 24.9% against them.

NC State has looked good at the start of the Wade era, and they’re coming off a stellar defensive effort last game, grinding Liberty down in an 85-45 win yesterday — the lowest scoring output of the season.

Any kind of work on that end can only help an impressive offense that’s seventh in the nation in scoring at 88.8 points per game, shooting a crisp 50.2% from the field, including a 40% clip from 3-point range, 15th in the nation.

The one knock on the Wolfpack thus far is its 0-3 record against major conference opponents, with losses coming against Seton Hall, Texas and 20th-ranked Auburn.

Kansas would be a great level-up win, considering the Wolfpack have just one win in 14 all-time meetings, although just two of those have come in the 2020’s.

In this tale of offense vs defense, Kansas has struggled to contain their previous ACC opponents, who score at a lower clip than the Wolfpack, with Duke fifth and UNC way down in 13th.

It won’t be as pretty as they’re accustomed — six of NC State’s seven wins have been by double digits — but the Wolfpack should be able to handle themselves at home, where they are 6-0 this season.

NCST Last Five Games

It’s early, and these teams are not yet close to their finished selves, so expect this one to be entertaining with plenty of up and down play.

Louisville can get up and down the floor, as they rank inside the KenPom’s Top 30 for pace, but theWildcats aren’t that far back themselves, sitting in 78th.

The recent matchups seem to match this trend, as the teams have combined to hit the Over in three straight and four of the last five meetings.

Kansas vs NC State Odds

The interactive table above will automatically update as the college basketball odds move over the course of the day.

If you’re thinking upset, Kansas is getting nice +145 moneyline odds over at Caesars, as well as 3-point underdogs against the spread.

NC State is sitting at -142 on the moneyline as the betting favorite, and you can find them as 2.5-point favorites as well, both available at FanDuel.

The total has some variance too, as Under bettors can grab themselves an extra 1.5 points over at Caesars for a total of 152 points, while Over bettors can get a win at 151 total points, as the best line available is at FanDuel, at 150.5 points.

Odds as of Dec 13. New customers can claim a FanDuel promo code get a bonus to bet on college basketball.

Kansas vs NC State Betting Trends

• NC State has won 24 of its last 25 games against non-Conference opponents at Lenovo Center.

• The Jayhawks have cashed the Under in four of their last five games

• North Carolina State is 9-0 straight up in its last 9 home game

• Though they’ve dropped two straight to ACC teams this season, Kansas is 17-3 SU in its last 20 games against an opponent in the Atlantic Coast conference.