The NC State Wolfpack and the Pittsburgh Panthers are wallowing in shambles. But one of them is going to see their losing streak finally end this Saturday. The Wolfpack are +15,000 to win the national tournament which begins next month.
Betting on the NC State Wolfpack (16-7 Overall / 4-6 Conference)
Well, at least they scored more than 30 points this time. After an extremely embarrassing performance in a 47-24 loss at home to the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Wolfpack got crushed by the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, 113-96. Against North Carolina, the Wolfpack’s offense seemed to have recovered, as they shot 50 percent from the field. It was a clear improvement from the performance they had in the Hokies game in which NC State went just 9-for-54 from the field for a terrible 16.7 field goal shooting percentage. The Wolfpack are on a three-game losing skid, but meeting the Pittsburgh could jumpstart them. After all, NC State took down the Panthers last January 12th in an 86-80 home win. Although they shot just 42.3 percent from the field in that game, the Wolfpack won the rebounding battle, 44-34, which largely explained why they had 16 more shots than Pittsburgh.
The Wolfpack, which is third in the ACC with 43.o rebounds per game, are 3-3 against the spread (ATS) in their last six road games this season.
Betting on the Pittsburgh Panthers (12-11 Overall / 2-8 Conference)
The Panthers are on a tailspin worse than what the Wolfpack are in right now. Pittsburgh has gone winless in their last six games. They nearly ended their drought on Tuesday, but came up short in a 78-76 overtime road loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The Panthers have now lost all of their last 20 road games, though, they will be the home team this Saturday. The They are 9-5 ATS in 14 games as the home team this season and 7-6 ATS in games they played coming off a 2-3 days of rest. Guard Xavier Johnson starred for the Panthers against Wake Forest, as he paced his team with 23 points on 8-for-19 shooting from the field with nine assists and two steals. Johnson was nearly unstoppable when he had the ball in the first meeting with NC State in which he had 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor. He also went 9-for-11 from the line, as the Wolfpack’s defense struggled to find a way to contain him. The Panthers’ bench will have to step up, however, with NC State’s second unit outscoring Pittsburgh’s relievers, 54-9.
The Panthers are 14-4 straight up (SU) and 11-5 ATS when playing at home so far this season, the latter of which gives something for bettors to consider (especially with NC State’s 3-3 ATS run).
