Clemson was slightly better in the regular season, and since the game is at a neutral site, the Tigers figure to be slight favorites. They will certainly have the higher motivation as North Carolina State doesn’t seem to have any chance of making it to March Madness.
The Wolfpack will be looking to play spoiler in what could be a competitive matchup.
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College Basketball Odds
Clemson is 16-14 straight up and 13-14-1 against the spread. The Tigers have played in three games at a neutral site this season and have covered in one of them. Clemson is 10-7 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
North Carolina State is 15-16 straight up and only 11-18 against the spread. The Wolfpack have played in three neutral court games as well and have covered in two of them. North Carolina State has not done very well as the underdog this season, covering in only four off 15 attempts.
Last Meeting
These teams also faced off in the regular season finale. It was a hard-fought game at Clemson and the Tigers eventually pulled out a close one by a score of 78-74.
Clemson had nice scoring balance in the contest as five different players scored in double figures. The Tigers were led by Jaron Blossomgame and Shelton Mitchell, who had 16 points apiece.
North Carolina State held a one-point lead at the end of the first half but Clemson was able to rally in the second for the win. The Wolfpack was led by Abdul Malik Abu, who had 18 points and three rebounds, shooting 8-of-14 for the field.
Key Stat
Five. That’s the number of games Clemson has lost to ranked teams by six points or fewer. A few more wins in those games and the Tigers would be in better shape for the Big Dance, but it shows that they do have the talent to hang with elite opponents.
Clemson did well in the non-conference season but has struggled during conference play as the ACC has many of the best teams in the country. The schedule was so hard that the Tigers are still considered on the tournament bubble but must get hot in the conference tournament.
If Clemson can win this game, it may get another shot at a ranked team in the ACC tournament. The Tigers would have to win that one as well, but first things first in this matchup against North Carolina State.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
These teams have similar win-loss records on the year, but Clemson has a healthier point-differential and has been competitive in more games. The two schools are located near each other and far away from the neutral court location of the conference tournament, so it doesn’t seem like either side will have an advantage there.
The ACC is so strong that Clemson struggled within it, but that dominance has kept it alive for March Madness despite a weak record. The Tigers are on the outside looking in right now and it’s paramount they knock off North Carolina State in this one to keep their postseason dream alive.
Clemson should be able to get it done as it is the better team and should play with a lot of intensity knowing its backs are against the wall. Take the Tigers to win and they should also be able to cover if it’s not too large.
College Basketball Odds: Clemson 77, North Carolina State 70
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