The NC State Wolfpack (19-8) take on the No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers (24-3) in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
Virginia is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -300. The total is set at 151 points.
Here’s my NC State vs. Virginia prediction and college basketball picks for February 24, 2026.
NC State vs Virginia Prediction, Pick
My Pick: Virginia 1H ATS
My NC State vs Virginia best bet is on the Cavaliers to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
NC State vs. Virginia Odds, Spread, and Total
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 151 -110o / -110u | +240 |
| Virginia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 151 -110o / -110u | -300 |
- NC State vs Virginia spread: Virginia -6.5
- NC State vs Virginia over/under: 151 points
- NC State vs Virginia moneyline: NC State +240, Virginia -300
NC State vs Virginia Expert College Basketball Pick
NC State Wolfpack
NC State comes into this game with a 19-8 overall record, while winning 10 of its first 14 games in conference play.
The Wolfpack currently ranks third in the ACC standings in head coach Will Wade’s first season at the helm.
Wade was brought into the program on a six-year contract and quickly made a significant impact, landing former Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams in the transfer portal.
Williams (14 PPG, five RPG) leads the charge for a Wolfpack offense scoring nearly 85 points per contest this season.
Wade has a very experienced frontcourt that boasts stellar athleticism and offensive prowess.
Alongside Williams, Ven-Allen Lubin is scoring nearly 14 points per game, along with seven rebounds. He's converting on a shocking 68.9% of his field goal attempts, which ranks second in college basketball.
Quadir Copeland adds further experience and impressive scoring ability to Wade’s bunch.
The guard is the third Wolfpack player averaging 14 points per contest this season, while dishing out 6.8 assists on average (11th nationally).
Per KenPom, the Wolfpack offense ranks an impressive 19th in the nation in offensive efficiency rating. While NC State hasn't been as efficient on the other end of the floor, the Wolfpack defense is allowing just 73 points per game this season, maintaining a double-digit scoring margin.
Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have been one of the biggest surprises this season, entering Tuesday’s clash with a spectacular 24-3 overall record. Virginia has won 12 of its first 14 conference matchups, ranking second in the ACC behind just Duke.
For a Virginia basketball program that's largely relied on its defensive prowess over a 15-season tenure under head coach Tony Bennett, the Hoos have been an offensive powerhouse in their first season under Ryan Odom.
Odom’s offense ranks in the top 25 nationally in offensive efficiency, per Haslametrics, scoring over 85 points per game.
This new-look Virginia offense is led by 6-foot-9 Thijs De Ridder, who's posting 16-point, six-rebound figures.
The freshman has been very effective from beyond the arc, leading the Cavs, who are converting on over 10 triples per contest (inside the top-25 in the country). De Ridder is also converting on over 50% of his field goal attempts this season.
Malik Thomas is having an impressive senior season for Virginia as well, scoring over 12 points per game.
Virginia’s frontcourt has impressive depth, with 7-footer Johann Grunloh making a big impact in his freshman campaign as well. While the German isn't very effective on the offensive end of the floor, he's been a menace for the defense, blocking over two shots per game.
Ugonna Onyenso adds further depth to Odom’s frontcourt, with the Nigerian having an efficient impact on the defensive end. He's averaging 2.8 blocks in just 17 minutes per game.
Bennett would surely be proud, as the Cavaliers rank 17th nationally in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
The Hoos’ defense is allowing less than 68 points per game, with the perimeter guards containing opponents to just a 29% clip from 3-point land.
How To Bet My NC State vs. Virginia Expert Pick
Tuesday night’s contest is the second meeting of the season between these ACC foes, with Odom’s Hoos having prevailed by 15 points on the road in early January.
The Wolfpack will undoubtedly be looking for revenge to improve its NCAA Tournament resume, as they're currently hovering near the top of the bubble.
The 14th-ranked Cavaliers have prevailed in 13 of their last 14 contests, with their last loss coming at home to UNC.
Though this is a revenge spot for the Wolfpack, I'm having a tough time fading the Hoos, as they've proven to be a complete team.
I'm not crazy about laying several points on the home team in a matchup that should be fairly competitive, so I'll be looking to target Virginia in some moneyline parlays to extract max value.
I'll also be looking to back the Hoos’ first-half spread, as they've come out scorching in the first 20 minutes of play in the majority of their home games this season.
My Pick: Virginia 1H ATS | Virginia ML Parlay Target
