Norfolk State vs North Carolina Central Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 1/30/23

The North Carolina Central Eagles and the Norfolk State Spartans meet Monday in college basketball action from Joseph Echols Hall. NC Central is sitting at 10-10 overall. The Eagles lost to Howard on Saturday in their last game. As for Norfolk State, they’re 14-7 following a Saturday win over South Carolina State. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

NC Central Eagles 

North Carolina Central lost to Virginia, App State, Liberty, Radford, Marquette, LSU, Gardner-Webb and Morgan State in their first 16 outings this year. The Eagles are 2-2 since then with losses to MD Eastern Shore and Howard. 

On Saturday versus Howard, the Eagles posted a slim 30-29 lead by halftime. NC Central was outscored 42-37 in the second half and fell 71-67. Brendan Medley-Bacon posted 15 points, and Justin Wright managed 14 points with seven boards. 

Norfolk State Spartans 

Over on the Norfolk State side, they went 11-5 over their first 16 games with losses to Baylor, UCLA, Houston, Old Dominion and Nevada. The Spartans are 3-2 in their last five outings, losing to Howard and Morgan State along the way. 

Matched up against South Carolina State on Saturday, the Spartans held a 38-33 lead in the locker room. Norfolk State posted a 44-35 run from there and took the win 82-68. Joe Bryant led the team with 23 points and nine rebounds. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll stay with Norfolk State in this one. The Spartans are just 2-2 in their last four games with losses to Howard and Morgan State, but that pair of defeats came by a combined eight points; Norfolk State is still scoring well lately with 71 or more points in five straight outings. As for NC Central, they’ve been pretty choppy in the win column lately but they should be able to hang around in this one. I like the Eagles to push Norfolk State for most of the game before the Spartans power out a late cover.