NC State (26-14) vs. Purdue (33-4)
April 6, 2024 6:09 pm EDT
The Line: Purdue -9; Over/Under: +146.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The NC State Wolfpack and the Purdue Boilermakers meet Saturday in the college basketball NCAA Tournament Final Four at State Farm Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an NC State vs. Purdue Prediction.
NC State Team Preview
The NC State Wolfpack booked their spot in the final four with a 76-64 upset win over Duke in their last matchup. DJ Horne leads the Wolfpack in scoring with 16.5 PPG along with 2.1 APG while Jayden Taylor has 12.2 PPG with 3.9 RPG. DJ Burns Jr. has 12.2 PPG with 4 RPG and 2.6 APG while Casey Morsell has 11.6 PPG with 2.8 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 7.2 RPG as well for the Wolfpack and Michael O’Connell leads NC State with 3 APG as well this season. As a team, NC State is averaging 76.1 PPG on 44.7% shooting from the field, 34.5% from three and 73.2% from the foul line this season.
Purdue Team Preview
The Purdue Boilermakers come into the final four after picking up a 72-66 win over Tennessee in their last matchup. Zach Edey leads the Boilermakers in scoring and rebounding with 24.4 PPG and 11.7 RPG, averaging a double-double per game while Fletcher Loyer has 10.4 PPG and Braden Smith also has 12.5 PPG with 5.8 RPG and a team-high 7.3 APG and 1.6 SPG to lead the Boilermakers in assists and steals. Lance Jones has 12.2 PPG, capping off the group of double-digit scorers for Purdue so far this season while Zach Edey has 2.2 BPG as well this season. As a team, Purdue is averaging 83.4 PPG on 48.8% shooting from the field, 40.8% from three and 72.1% from the foul line this season.
Purdue Boilermakers Team Facts
- Purdue has won each of its last 17 day games against non-Conference opponents.
- Five of Purdue’s last six games against the Atlantic Coast Conference have produced a total of 148+ points.
- Purdue has won the first half in each of its last seven games against non-Conference opponents.
NC State Wolfpack Team Facts
- NC State has won each of its last nine games.
- Seven of NC State’s last eight games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 147+ points.
- NC State has won the first half in each of its last 15 Saturday day games against non-Conference opponents.
NC State vs. Purdue Prediction
I’m going to side with NC State here. I’m not sure that the Wolfpack win this one outright but NC State has the size to make life difficult for the Boilermakers and size that Purdue isn’t used to facing. Even if the size gets negated with Edey in the middle, the Wolfpack have picked up their shooting from the perimeter to be able to pick up the slack. I think this is going to be a competitive game throughout, so give me NC State and the points here. The winner of this game will meet UConn or Alabama in the Championship game.
