The NC State Wolfpack and the North Carolina Tar Heels meet in college basketball action from the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday. Who comes out on top in this ACC rivalry matchup? Let’s dive in and find out with our NC State vs. North Carolina Prediction.
NC State Team Preview
The NC State Wolfpack come into this game looking to rebound from a 90-83 loss to Florida State last time out. DJ Horne leads the Wolfpack in scoring with 17.5 PPG along with 2.3 APG while Jayden Taylor has 11.8 PPG with 3.8 RPG. DJ Burns Jr. has 11.8 PPG with 4 RPG and 2.6 APG while Casey Morsell has 11.6 PPG with 2.9 RPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for NC State up to this point in the year. Mohamed Diarra has a team-high 6.5 RPG as well for the Wolfpack and Michael O’Connell leads NC State with 3.1 APG as well this season. As a team, NC State is averaging 76.2 PPG on 44.3% shooting from the field, 34.1% from three and 72.9% from the foul line this season.
North Carolina Team Preview
The North Carolina Tar Heels come into this game looking to build on a three-game win streak after a 75-71 win over Miami last time out. RJ Davis leads the Tar Heels in scoring with 21.7 PPG along with 3.7 RPG and 3.4 APG while Armando Bacot has 14.1 PPG and a team-high 10.5 RPG to lead the Tar Heels on the glass, averaging a huge double-double per game. Harrison Ingram has 12.2 PPG with 9.2 RPG and Cormac Ryan has 10.9 PPG with 2.9 RPG to round out the scoring in double figures for UNC so far this season. As a team, North Carolina is averaging 81.5 PPG on 44.8% shooting from the field, 35.4% from three and 74.9% from the foul line this season. North Carolina will play against Notre Dame after this game.
NC State vs. North Carolina Prediction
I’m on the over here. Normally this is a high-scoring affair whenever these two lock up, and NC State hasn’t necessarily been the sharpest defensively in recent games. North Carolina’s more than capable of scoring into the 80s on any given night and NC State is capable of responding in kind. All in all, I think we have a track meet here, give me the over.