An ACC showdown featuress the North Carolina Tar Heels (16-10) going on the road to play the No. 23 NC State Wolfpack (20-7) on Sunday afternoon. North Carolina has lost four of its past five games. On Feb. 13, No. 15 Miami topped the Tar Heels 80-72. Likewise, NC State looks to find its groove. The Wolfpack have dropped two of their past three games. On Feb. 14, the Wolfpack fell to Syracuse 75-72.
Tip-off from PNC Arena in Raleigh is set for 1 p.m. ET. The Wolfpack are 2-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. NC State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 154.5. Before locking in any NC State vs. UNC picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 15 of the season 66-38 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning almost $1,700 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UNC vs. NC State and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the college basketball lines and trends for NC State vs. North Carolina:
- North Carolina vs. NC State spread: Wolfpack -2
- North Carolina vs. NC State over/under: 154.5 points
- North Carolina vs. NC State money line: Wolfpack -135, Tar Heels +115
- UNC: The Tar Heels are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six Sunday games
- NCST: The Wolfpack are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games following a straight-up loss
- North Carolina vs. NC State picks: See picks at SportsLine
Featured Game | NC State Wolfpack vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Why NC State can cover
Sophomore guard Terquavion Smith is the go-to option offensively for the Wolfpack. Smith has good length and quickness to beat the defender consistently. The North Carolina native owns a soft shooting touch with solid range. He’s second on the team in points (18.3) with 3.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. On Feb. 11, Smith logged 17 points and six assists.
Senior Casey Morsell provides NC State with a strong and compact combo guard in the backcourt. Morsell has a good shooting stroke and lets it fly with confidence. He puts up 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and shoots 43% from deep. He’s logged at least 16 points in three of his last four matchups. On Feb. 7, Morsell dropped 18 points and four 3-pointers.
Why North Carolina can cover
Senior forward Armando Bacot has broad shoulders to go with outstanding strength down low. Bacot does a great job setting screens, pulling down boards, and creating second-chance opportunities. The Virginia native leads the ACC in rebounds (11) and ranks fourth in scoring (17.4). In Feb. 11 contest against Clemson, Bacot had 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Junior guard Caleb Love is an aggressive scoring force who has a downhill play style. Love likes to build up his speed and attack the lane consistently. He has the ability to finish with either hand at the basket. The Missouri native logs 17 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He has scored at least 20 points in three straight games. In his last outing, Love tallied 20 points and three rebounds.
How to make NC State vs. UNC picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 148 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only get the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins North Carolina vs. NC State? And which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned almost $1,700 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.
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