Clemson vs. NC State Prediction: Can the Tigers Advance to the ACC Semifinals?

Clemson vs. NC State Prediction: Can the Tigers Advance to the ACC Semifinals?

The Clemson Tigers and the North Carolina State Wolfpack will square off in the ACC Tournament with a spot in the semifinals on the line against the winner of the North Carolina/Virginia game. Clemson has won both regular season matchups, and the Tigers will look to make it three in a row on Thursday night. In the first meeting, Clemson won by 14 points, and in the second meeting, the Tigers cruised to a 25-point victory. Was it a fluke? I don't think so.

Clemson vs NC State Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
• Start Time: 9:30 pm ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN

Click here for Clemson vs NC State odds

Clemson vs NC State Prediction

NC State is a team that has struggled to shoot from beyond the arc, which is a bad matchup for the Wolfpack against Clemson. The Tigers are a team that limits inside looks and forces outside shots. NC State only shoots 33.5% in conference games from three, which is last in the ACC. In yesterday's game, NC State was able to shoot 71.8% from two-point range, scoring 97 points. However, Clemson is first in the ACC in two-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 45% inside the perimeter.

The Wolfpack will need to get production from their guards if they want to keep the game close. Terquavion Smith is the leading scorer for NC State, averaging 17.7 points and 4.3 assists per game. Jarkel Joiner and Casey Morsell are also solid scoring options, averaging 17.3 points and 12 points, respectively. Jack Clark is another player to watch for the Wolfpack, as he is averaging 9.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

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Clemson has a balanced attack on offense as well. The Tigers have four players averaging double figures in scoring this season, led by Hunter Tyson, who is averaging 15.7 points per game. He is also the leading rebounder with 9.5 per game.

The key to the game will be which team can establish their defense early on. Clemson is known for its strong defense, as the Tigers are ranked second in the ACC in scoring defense, allowing just 65.3 points per game. NC State, on the other hand, has struggled on defense this season, allowing 70.5 points per game. If Clemson can get off to a fast start and force NC State to take contested shots, it could be a long night for the Wolfpack.

In addition to their strong defense, Clemson has been playing some of its best basketball of the season over the past few weeks. The Tigers have won three of their last four games, including a dominant win over Notre Dame in their regular season finale. In that game, Clemson shot 50.8% from the field, including 13 of 29 from three-point range. If the Tigers can carry that momentum into the ACC Tournament, they could be a tough out for any team they face.

Overall, Clemson appears to have the edge in this matchup. The Tigers have won both regular season meetings with stingy defense inside the arc, and their defense has been one of the best in the conference all season long. NC State will need to shoot well from beyond the arc and get production from their guards if they want to pull off the upset, and they haven't done that well all season. Clemson is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and the Tigers should be able to advance to the semifinals with a win over the Wolfpack on Thursday night.

Clemson vs NC State Pick

Pick: Clemson +1.5 @ (-110) Bet $100 to collect $190 DraftKings have the best odds; click here to bet