NC State vs Syracuse Picks and Odds
- Syracuse is a 2-point favorite over NC State in the 2nd Round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday (March 10th, Noon ET)
- The Orange won their last two regular season outings, while the Wolfpack enter play on a five-game winning streak
- See below for analysis, odds and a betting prediction
Believe it or not, the hottest ACC team heading into the conference tournament this week is NC State. The Wolfpack (13-9, 9-8 ACC) ended the regular season on a five-game winning streak, and will look to continue their scorching hot play on Wednesday (March 10th, Noon ET) by upsetting Syracuse in the 2nd round of the ACC Tournament.
NC State vs Syracuse Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC State Wolfpack | +2.0 (-110) | OFF | Over 146.0 (-110) |
| Syracuse Orange | -2.0 (-110) | OFF | Under 146.0 (-110) |
Odds taken March 9th.
The Orange (15-8, 9-7 ACC) opened up as a 2-point favorite, in a game that features a total of 146. Syracuse closed out its regular season on a high note as well, upsetting UNC and waxing Clemson by 10 in the season finale.
The Orange Are Heating Up
Alan Griffin led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds versus the Tigers, recording his fifth double-double of the season. Buddy Boeheim chipped in 17, as Syracuse snapped March Madness bound Clemson’s five-game winning streak.
Stepping up. 📈@alangriffin_ pic.twitter.com/IGjauRq0Lh
— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) March 5, 2021
The Orange are currently projected in the dreaded first four out category for next week’s NCAA Tournament, and will need a strong showing this week to book a ticket to Indianapolis. They used a 15-2 second half run versus the Tigers to blow the game open, shooting 50% over the final 20 minutes, and committing only 1 turnover.
Finished the regular season right. 🍊✊ pic.twitter.com/cP7FDjrnFa
— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) March 4, 2021
Syracuse held Clemson to 33.9% from the field, while winning the rebounding battle and blocking five shots. Strong defense is nothing new to this program, as they rank fourth in the conference in opponent field-goal percentage, second in steals and first in blocks.
Wolfpack On a Roll
NC State’s five-game winning streak includes upset victories over #16 Virginia, and most recently Notre Dame. Cam Hayes led the way with a career-high 20 points in their 80-69 win over the Irish, while Dereon Seaborn posted career-bests in both points (17) and rebounds (13).
Dereon Seabron is our Freshman of the Week!
In last week's win, he posted a career-high…
🔥 17 points
💪 13 rebounds
❌ 3 blocks @PackMensBball | @DBSeabron1 pic.twitter.com/FSaDzoRcxk— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 8, 2021
Jericole Hellems added 13, helping the Wolfpack secure its longest winning streak since 2003-04. They shot 54.1% from the field versus Notre Dame, and 39.1% from three. Defensively, they limited the Irish to 37.5% from the field, forced 11 turnovers and blocked 10 shots.
Fifth-straight win for the Pack! 🐺@PackMensBball | #ACCMBB pic.twitter.com/XO79eke0na
— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 4, 2021
NC State has been a middling defensive team all season, ranking in the bottom third of the ACC in points allowed and opponent shooting percentage, but lately they’ve turned the corner. The Wolfpack have held four straight opponents below 70 points, and they’ve surrendered north of 70 points just twice in their past nine outings.
Syracuse’s NCAA Tournament Hopes Stay Alive
One of those teams to hit the 70-point mark versus NC State however, was Syracuse in a 77-68 victory. The Orange took both meetings from the Wolfpack this season, and even though NC State is rolling at the moment, Syracuse’s impressive last two victories suggest they’re also locked in.
The Orange shot 47.5% and 46% in their two matchups against the Wolfpack this season, while knocking down 42.5% of their threes. They averaged 74.5 points in the two meetings, and with their March Madness hopes hanging in the balance, it could be tough for NC State to match their level of desperation.
Syracuse ranks 17 spots higher in the NCAA NET Rankings, and 12 spots higher in KenPom’s metrics. This game projects to be a tight, low scoring affair, and I lean towards Syracuse keeping its season alive.
Pick: Syracuse Orange -2 (-110)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
