No. 14 Oakland (24-11) pulled off the upset of the day when it knocked off No. 3 Kentucky (23-10) on Thursday, 80-76. Now, it’ll get a chance to advance to the Sweet 16 if it can get by a dangerous No. 11 in NC State (23-14).
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No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 11 NC State Odds
- Spread: Oakland +6.5 (-120) • NC State -6.5 (+100)
- Moneyline: Oakland (+220) • NC State (-275)
- Total: Over 146.5 (-110) • Under 146.5 (-110)
Oakland comes into Saturday’s contest as a 6.5-point underdog. Its win over Kentucky was impressive, but it’ll have its work cut out for it against an NC State team that has beaten Duke, North Carolina, and Texas Tech within the last 10 days.
Oakland and NC State each scored 80 points in their first-round matchups, so the total may be set a bit too low at 146.5.
Oakland vs. NC State Prediction
The Golden Grizzlies and Wolfpack are battling for the opportunity to be this year’s premier cinderella. NC State continued its miraculous run through the ACC Tournament with an upset victory over Texas Tech in the first round, while Oakland currently has the best win of any team in the NCAA Tournament.
Although not generally known for their defense, the Wolfpack have held opponents to 71.2 points per game and 30.8% shooting from three-point range amid their six-game winning streak. That could come in handy against the Golden Grizzlies, who went 15-of-31 from deep in their win over Kentucky.
One point of emphasis for NC State is bound to be containing breakout star Jack Gohlke, who connected on 10 of his 20 three-point attempts against the Wildcats. The sixth-year guard didn’t attempt a single shot inside the arc.
If Oakland gets red-hot again, it could certainly knock off the Wolfpack. This will be more challenging, though, because the Golden Grizzlies no longer have the element of surprise on their side. NC State knows what to expect, but that hasn’t stopped the best underdogs from pressing on.
Oakland vs. NC State Best Bets
Oakland (+220) vs NC State
BetMGM Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Given the circumstances, I’m inclined to go with the value and back Oakland outright. The Golden Grizzlies have already topped a superior team, and at (+220), the potential profit is there to make this a worthwhile bet.
As of this writing, only 32% of the public is on Oakland to win outright at BetMGM.
Over 146.5 (-110)
BetMGM Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
NC State’s offense has been on lately, and the Golden Grizzlies’ dependence on the three-point shot can help keep this one close and competitive. I fully expect this contest to be won on the offensive end, so I’m in on the Over at 146.5 points.
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