NCAAB Picks Today: NC State vs Virginia Tech, March 8, 2023

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

The ACC Tournament continues with an exciting second-round matchup on the hardwood in North Carolina. On March 7, 2023, the 11th-seeded Virginia Tech Hokies will face off against the sixth-seeded NC State Wolfpack in a high-stakes game with a coveted spot in the quarterfinals on the line.

Virginia Tech earned their spot in this matchup by defeating 14th-seeded Notre Dame 67-64 in a hard-fought first-round game the previous night. While they were expected to win as 6.5-point favorites, they failed to cover the spread. Meanwhile, NC State enters the game after falling 71-67 to Duke in their regular season finale on February 28, but they did manage to cover the 6.5-point underdog line.

As the two teams prepare to face off, the Wolfpack hold a significant advantage in the all-time series between the teams with a 23-11 record. In fact, they were able to secure a 73-69 road victory in the most recent meeting between the two teams on January 7.

With both teams looking to advance to the next round of the ACC Tournament, this game promises to be an exciting and closely contested battle between two skilled squads. I'll make a full analysis on both teams and give you a final prediction on who will win so get ready for some NCAAB Picks today.

NC State Wolfpack

The NC State Wolfpack are looking to bounce back from a late-season slump and secure a win in their second-round matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies. NC State dropped their last two regular season games, including a road loss to Duke in which they struggled to find their rhythm on offense and ultimately fell short.

Against Duke, the Wolfpack faced a deficit for much of the game, trailing by as many as seven in the first half and falling behind by four at halftime. They struggled to get going in the second half as well, trailing by 10 at one point and falling behind by 12 with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Despite making a late push and closing the gap to within three points, NC State ultimately fell short and suffered their second straight loss. Jarkel Joiner put in a strong individual performance, finishing the game with 26 points and eight rebounds.

Overall, NC State has been a solid offensive team this season, ranking 37th in the nation in scoring with an average of 78.4 points per game. They have also been a solid rebounding team, ranking 61st in the country with an average of 37 boards per contest. Defensively, they have been average, allowing 70.3 points per game to rank 187th in the nation.

Leading the way for the Wolfpack this season has been Terquavion Smith, who is averaging 17.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. Joiner has also been a key contributor, putting up 17.3 points and 3.5 assists per contest. Other important players for NC State include Casey Morsell, Jack Clark, Dusan Mahorcic, D.J. Burns, LJ Thomas, Ernest Ross, and Breon Pass.

However, Mahorcic has been out of action since December 6 due to a knee injury and isn't expected back until mid-March. Meanwhile, Thomas has been battling an illness and has not played since February 25. His status for the game against Virginia Tech is questionable and will be worth monitoring leading up to tip-off.

Overall, NC State has shot 45% from the field as a team this season and has connected on an average of 8.5 three-pointers per game while shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc. They have been an average team at the free-throw line, hitting 72% of their attempts this season.

As they prepare to take on Virginia Tech in the second round of the ACC Tournament, the Wolfpack will need to put together a strong performance on both ends of the floor in order to secure a win. They have shown flashes of brilliance this season, but will need to shake off their recent struggles and play with confidence and determination in order to advance to the quarterfinals. 

Virginia Tech Hokies

As the ACC Tournament rolls on, the Virginia Tech Hokies find themselves just one win away from securing a coveted spot in the quarterfinals. The Hokies have had a tough season, but managed to secure a hard-fought win over Notre Dame in the first round of the tournament, extending their winning streak to three games in the process.

In their game against Notre Dame, Virginia Tech got off to a strong start, taking an early 7-0 lead and extending it to a 12-point advantage with seven minutes left in the first half. However, the Fighting Irish managed to claw their way back into the game, cutting the deficit to just one point at halftime. Virginia Tech found themselves down by five with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, but they rallied to close the game on a 14-6 run, ultimately securing the win with a final score of 67-64.

Despite the close scoreline, the Hokies put in an impressive performance, shooting 48% from the field and holding Notre Dame to just 42.9% shooting. Grant Basile was the standout performer for Virginia Tech, finishing the game with a team-high 20 points.

On the offensive end of the floor, Virginia Tech has been above average this season, ranking 118th in the nation in scoring offense with an average of 74.4 points per game. They also rank 28th in the country in assists per game, dishing out 15.8 per contest. Defensively, the Hokies have been slightly above average, allowing 69.1 points per game to rank 145th in the nation.

Leading the way for Virginia Tech this season is Sean Pedulla, who has been averaging 15.3 points and 3.8 assists per game. Grant Basile has also been a key contributor, putting up a team-high 16.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest. Other important players for the Hokies include Darius Maddox, Hunter Cattoor, Justyn Mutts, Lynn Kidd, Mlyljael Poteat, Michael Collins Jr., and John Camden.

However, it's worth noting that Maddox has been out of action since January 23rd due to a personal issue and is not expected to return this season. His absence has been felt by the team, but they have managed to rally and put together some impressive performances without him.

Overall, Virginia Tech has been a solid team this season, shooting 47% from the field as a team and knocking down an average of 8.3 triples per game while shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc. They have also been above average at the free throw line, hitting 73.1% of their attempts this season.

As they prepare to face off against the NC State Wolfpack in the second round of the ACC Tournament, the Hokies will need to continue to play at a high level if they hope to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. While they may not be the favorites in this matchup, they have shown that they are a resilient team that is capable of rising to the occasion when it matters most. Fans can expect a hard-fought and exciting game as these two teams battle it out for a shot at tournament glory.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia Tech's last 5 games.

Virginia Tech are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games.

Virginia Tech are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games against North Carolina State.

Virginia Tech are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against North Carolina State.

The total has gone OVER in 9 of Virginia Tech's last 13 games against an opponent in the Atlantic Coast conference.

North Carolina State are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games.

North Carolina State are 14-6 SU in their last 20 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of North Carolina State's last 6 games against Virginia Tech.

North Carolina State are 11-5 SU in their last 16 games against an opponent in the Atlantic Coast conference.

Prediction

NC State has shown that they can compete at a high level, and although they have lost their last two games, they have played well throughout the season.

NC State has a significant advantage in this matchup, having won 23 out of 34 games against Virginia Tech. Additionally, they have more depth and experience on their roster, which should give them an edge in a tournament setting.

While the Hokies have been playing well recently, they have had trouble against strong opponents this season, especially on the road. With only one win in their four away games this season, they could struggle to match up against NC State, especially if they don't get off to a strong start.

NC State's offensive firepower could be the deciding factor in this game, as they have been averaging 79.00 points per game this season. With Terquavion Smith and Jarkel Joiner leading the way, the Wolfpack have the ability to score quickly and often, which could prove to be too much for Virginia Tech to handle.

In contrast, the Hokies have been averaging 74.00 points per game, which is respectable, but may not be enough to keep up with NC State's offensive output. While they do have some talented players, such as Sean Pedulla and Grant Basile, they may struggle to generate enough scoring opportunities against NC State's defense.

Defensively, the two teams are evenly matched, with both allowing an average of 69.00 points per game. However, NC State's recent struggles could be attributed to their defensive lapses, which they will need to address if they hope to advance in the tournament.

Taking all of this into account, NC State is likely to win this matchup, especially with their recent experience against Virginia Tech. While the Hokies have been playing well, they may struggle to keep up with the Wolfpack's high-powered offense, which should give NC State the edge they need to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

PICK: NC State ML (-143)

Looking for an edge when making your NCAAB picks? Look no further than KingPin.pro - one of the top-rated sports betting apps available on both iOS and Android. The platform provides users with real-time odds, betting trends, and public betting data to help make informed decisions when placing bets.

But that's not all. KingPin.pro also allows sports bettors to connect with expert handicappers and gain access to their NCAAB picks. Users can create an account and purchase picks from a variety of sports, including the NBA, NFL, MLB, and more. With a user-friendly interface and comprehensive data analysis, KingPin.pro has become a go-to app for NCAAB picks and sports bettors alike.

But the fun doesn't stop there. KingPin.pro also offers users the opportunity to place their own picks and compete for a spot in the top 10 leaderboard. If a user's pick makes it into the top 10, they will be paid out accordingly. This incentivizes users to make informed and accurate NCAAB picks, and rewards them for their success.

What's more, users can purchase access to view all of the NCAAB picks on the site, not just those from the handicappers they choose to follow. This allows users to gain more insight into the overall trends and predictions of the community, and make more informed betting decisions.

Overall, KingPin.pro offers a unique platform for NCAAB picks and sports bettors to access expert picks and compete against others while also providing the opportunity for users to make their own picks and potentially earn money. The site's iOS and Android app makes it easy to access and use, no matter where you are. Don't miss out on the chance to gain an edge in your NCAAB picks - give KingPin.pro a try today. And for even more NCAAB picks, be sure to check out NCAAB picks CBS.