Vanderbilt vs. NC State Odds
| Vanderbilt Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -115 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | +220 |
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -105 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | -275 |
In one of our last games of the day to cap off Saturday's massive slate of basketball, we'll see the Vanderbilt Commodores square off against the NC State Wolfpack in the Legends of Basketball Showcase in Chicago, IL.
The Commodores come into the game at just .500 after losing to Grambling State in their last game as a 13.5-point favorite.
NC State, meanwhile, is 9-3 on the season and has posted some impressive wins over the likes of Dayton, Butler and Furman.
A win over a non-conference, power-conference opponent would be huge for either of these teams before they are fully immersed in conference play.
But does the Vanderbilt defense have any chance to stop a Wolfpack offense that's been one of the best in the nation?
Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt is a hard team to gauge given how inconsistent it's been. The Commodores struggled to even take a lead in their last two games against Pittsburgh and Grambling.
On defense, they have been solid, holding teams to just 67 points per game. But allowing them to score 67 isn't very helpful when the Commodores themselves are averaging just 67.9 points per game.
While the Commodores have been a solid shooting team from beyond the arc — hitting 34.5% on the season — overall, they've been average at best, posting an effective field goal percentage of just 50.2%.
The Wolfpack are known for their offense, but their defense has been nearly as impressive. NC State has been great at defending on the perimeter, allowing teams to hit just 31.4% from deep. If the Commodores can't find success from deep, this game could get out of hand quickly.
Slowing down the Wolfpack's offense presents a major challenge for the Commodores given the fact that NC State has multiple high-level scorers who can be effective nearly anywhere on the court.
Of late, the Commodores have stepped up in the paint, limiting teams to just 27.8% on field goals in the paint and 58% at the rim in their last five games.
One of my biggest concerns against the Wolfpack, though, will be their advantage over Vanderbilt when it comes to rebounding. NC State averages 26.9 defensive rebounds and 11.3 offensive rebounds per game, while Vandy has allowed teams to average 25.3 and 8.8, respectfully.
The Commodores struggle specifically to get offensive rebounds, coming down with the board just 28.5% of the time.
NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack have been one of the best teams in the country offensively, averaging 81.9 points per game, while also coming down with 38.2 rebounds per game.
NC State's ability to score from anywhere on the court is a massive advantage over Vanderbilt.
NC State has posted an effective field goal percentage of 54.4%. It also ranks inside the top 100 when it comes to both 2- and 3-point shooting.
Against the Commodores, I also expect their success on the break to continue. NC State has averaged 19.3 fast-break points per game and ranks in the 99th percentile.
Vandy has held teams to just 5.9 points off the break per game so far, but no one they've faced even comes close the ability of the Wolfpack.
As I mentioned previously, the Wolfpack defense has been nearly as impressive as their offense, And against a Vanderbilt team that's already struggling to score, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Commodores get held to less than 70 in this matchup.
Vanderbilt vs. NC State Betting Pick
The Commodores' defense has been solid, but I don't see them doing enough against NC State for that to make a difference.
The Wolfpack offense has been consistent all year, and I expect them to find success — specifically around the rim and off the boards — against Vandy.
Back the Wolfpack to run wild against a Commodores team that simply cannot keep up. I have NC State at -6.5, but would feel comfortable backing the Pack as high as a nine-point favorite.
Pick: NC State -9 or Better |
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