NC State vs. Virginia Tech Odds
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -105 | 143.5 -110o / -110u | +200 |
| Virginia Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -115 | 143.5 -110o / -110u | -240 |
Virginia Tech's hot start to the season has cooled off in a hurry. After starting 11-1, including impressive wins over North Carolina and Penn State, the Hokies have lost three in a row.
All three losses have come against conference foes, including a lowly Boston College team that beat them in overtime.
Things won't be any easier against an NC State team that has been rolling. The Wolfpack are 12-4 (2-3 ACC) and fresh off a big upset over Duke in Cameron Indoor.
Terquavion Smith and Jarkel Joiner have been one of the best duos in the ACC, combining for 34.4 points per game.
Can the Virginia Tech defense do enough to limit them in this ACC showdown? Let's dive in.
NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack rank third in the ACC and 26th in the nation, averaging 79.8 points per game while also posting an effective field goal percentage of 52.6%.
NC State hasn't necessarily been a great shooting team but benefits greatly from the fact it's seventh in college basketball when it comes to free throw attempts per game.
The win over Duke becomes even more impressive for this Wolfpack team considering they were without both Jack Clark and Dusan Mahorcic.
But when Smith is on the floor, not much else matters for this Wolfpack team. Smith ranks in the 95th and 96th percentile when it comes to minutes and points per game, respectfully. He's not only a game-changer on the offensive end but makes an impact on defense as well.
The team, as a whole, has been great at both ends of the floor and rarely makes mistakes. The Wolfpack turn the ball over on only 14.9% of possessions and have given up just 6.1 steals per game.
My biggest concern in this matchup would be Virginia Tech's ability to limit NC State at the rim. The Hokies have held teams to just 58.6% at the rim on the season and have been even better as of late, holding opponents to just 53.9%. For a team that averages 33.3 points per game in the paint like NC State, this could be a major issue if it can't find success.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech has found success against the Wolfpack of late, winning four of the last five. However, NC State still holds a commanding lead in the series at 41-19.
So far this season, Tech has been almost unstoppable at home with a 9-1 record and its only loss coming against Clemson its last time out.
The Hokies offense has been driven primarily by the efforts of Sean Pedulla and Justyn Mutts.
Pedulla leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game. Meanwhile, Mutts has been one of the most dynamic scorers in the ACC and is one of only two players who rank in the top six in scoring as well as rebounding.
One thing to keep an eye on against the Wolfpack is how well VT has limited turnovers. The Hokies turn the ball over even less than NC State, giving up the ball on just 14.6% of possessions. The Wolfpack average 17.2 points per game off of turnovers, so their scoring could be greatly affected if they can't create takeaways.
NC State vs. Virginia Tech Betting Pick
NC State is riding high after the big win at Duke, and I think it can carry the momentum into Blacksburg.
The Virginia Tech defense will definitely be a challenge for the Wolfpack — especially on the perimeter — but I don't think it's anything they can't handle.
Take the points with the Wolfpack, who should keep this one close.
