Oakland (24-11, 15-5 Horizon) entered the Horizon League tournament as the favorite and won, securing their place in the NCAA tournament impressively. The team, led by Trey Townsend, is really strong, especially in do-or-die games.
Townsend, a forward who can do a bit of everything, is great at scoring, rebounding, and passing. If Oakland’s guards hit some three-point shots, they could give other teams a hard time.
They’ve already played tough games against big teams like Ohio State, Illinois, and Drake and even beat Xavier, showing they can take on anyone, including a big win over Kentucky.
NC State (23-14, 9-11 ACC) surprised everyone by winning the ACC tournament, beating big teams like Duke and North Carolina. The team has some standout players like DJ Burns Jr., a big guy who’s tough near the basket, DJ Horne, a guard who scores a lot, and Mohamed Diarra, who’s known for playing hard.
Their coach, Kevin Keatts, knows how to get the best out of them. With the confidence gained from winning the ACC tournament and convincingly beating Texas Tech, NC State looks ready to keep winning.
They’re geared up to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, showing they’re a team to watch.
FanDuel March Madness Sign-Up Offer
Begin your journey with DraftKings Sportsbook with an exclusive offer: Place a $5 bet and receive $250 in bonus bets. Follow these steps to participate:
- 🚢 Navigate to DraftKings through any provided link.
- ✍ Complete the registration process by entering your name, address, and email.
- 🖐 Deposit a minimum of $5 into your account.
- 💵 Place an initial bet of at least $5.
- 💰 Receive 10 bonus bets, each worth $25.
Please note that bonus bets cannot be directly converted into cash. Additionally, using your bonus bets within 7 days is important, as they will expire if not used within this timeframe.
No. 14 Oakland vs No. 11 NC State Odds & Details
- Date: Saturday, March 23, 2024
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- Watch: TBS
- Location: PPG Paints Arena; Pittsburgh, PA
- Spread: Oakland +5.5 (-102), NC State -5.5 (-120)
- Moneyline: Oakland (+198), NC State (-245)
- Total: Over/Under 146.5 (-110/-110)
Oakland vs NC State Betting Picks & Prediction
Oakland’s unexpected victory over Kentucky surprised many, but the Wildcats’ weak defense ranked 132nd, hinted at possible troubles. Oakland didn’t let Kentucky’s future NBA players intimidate them.
Trey Townsend had a great game with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Jack Gohlke scored 32 points, making 10 three-point shots, dealing a big blow to Kentucky’s team.
Now, Oakland is looking at NC State, a team that has improved in March but still struggles with defense, much like Kentucky. Oakland hopes to take advantage of NC State’s ongoing defensive issues.
Gohlke might not score as much this time, but Townsend should do well again, especially against NC State’s weaker defense. Blake Lampman is also expected to improve, considering he’s already played against tougher teams.
The big challenge for Oakland will be NC State’s strong players near the basket, like DJ Burns Jr., Mohamed Diarra, and Ben Middlebrooks. However, Oakland is ready to fight for every rebound and defend well against three-point shots, something they’ve consistently done.
If they can outperform NC State in three-point shooting, they have a good chance to win again. Oakland is set for another big game, and if they can dominate with their three-point shooting once more, they could pull off another huge upset.
The Golden Grizz and Townsend carry this to end the Wolfpack’s postseason run.
PREDICTION: Oakland wins 75-74
BET: Oakland +5.5 (-102)
BET: Over 146.5 (-110)
