NC State vs. Marquette Prediction: Can Tyler Kolek, Golden Eagles Eliminate Wolfpack in Sweet 16?
The NC State Wolfpack will try to continue their run against the explosive Marquette Golden Eagles. Can Tyler Kolek and Marquette put an end to the Wolfpack's Cinderella season? Joey Ruiz provides his prediction and pick in NC State vs. Marquette.
Joey Ruiz - March 29, 2024, 3:35 PM EDT
5 minNC State vs. Marquette Prediction: Can Tyler Kolek, Golden Eagles Eliminate Wolfpack in Sweet 16?
NC State has had a magical run through the ACC tournament and to the Sweet 16, but now they have to face a Marquette team who is firing on all cylinders over the last month of the season. Can NC State manage to keep this game close? Let’s break it down.
NC STATE VS. MARQUETTE DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: March 29, 2024
- Start Time: 7:09 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: CBS
NC STATE VS. MARQUETTE ODDS
- Spread: NC State +6.5 (-110), Marquette -6.5 (-110)
- Total Odds: O 151.5 (-110), U 151.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: NC State (+250), Marquette (-300)
NC State vs. Marquette Prediction
NC State picked a great time to play their best basketball of the season as they ran the table in the ACC tournament to get an automatic bid, and then upset Texas Tech in the Round of 64 and took care of Oakland in overtime to find themselves in the Sweet 16. There have not been a ton of upsets in this year‘s March Madness, but NC State is the most unlikely team in the Sweet 16 team this season.
NC State has a lot of talent and is led by big man DJ Burns, who has been a force to be reckoned with in the paint over the last month. Burns is a matchup nightmare for a lot of teams because of his sheer size. Burns is around 6’8 or 6’9 but is well built in the midsection and can body nearly every big man he has faced at this point while also having excellent footwork. The Wolfpack are without a doubt the hottest team in the tournament, but are nowhere near the most talented and do not have nearly as much talent as this Marquette team.
Marquette is led by star point guard Tyler Kolek, who is one of the best point guards in the country this season. Kolek has turned it up to another level in the tournament as he his averaging 19.5 points, 11 assists, and 5.5 rebounds through his first two tournament games. This Marquette offense has been firing on all cylinders, as they are averaging 84 points per game in the tournament. I am not sure how NC State is going to contain them.
To this point, NC State has faced Texas Tech and Oakland in the tournament. Two solid teams, but neither one of those teams has anywhere near the offensive of prowess of this Marquette squad. Marquette is also coming off a disappointing second half against Colorado where they let the Buffaloes nearly come back and steal away the game. Marquette was up 11 points at the half, and only ended up winning by four.
I won’t be shocked if Marquette comes out a bit slow in the first half, but I expect full focus in the second half from this group as I do not see them having a similar type of letdown against this NC State team who is much less talented offensively than Colorado. With that being said, I am rolling with Marquette -6.5 at -110 odds for 1.5 units as one of my most confident college basketball plays of the day, as I expect the Golden Eagles to get it done.
NC State vs. Marquette Pick
Pick: Marquette -6.5 (-110) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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