Marquette vs NC State betting odds, predictions, pick and promos
In an NCAA Tournament in which the favorites have dominated, NC State is the only double-digit seed remaining.
They will now face off with 2nd-seeded Marquette as they battle to represent the South region of the bracket.
This matchup is set to take place in Dallas, Texas making it about equal travel for both teams.
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Marquette (2) vs NC State (11) preview
Marquette has been among the best teams in college basketball all season but has yet to receive the attention it deserves. They have had no issues thus far in the tournament defeating Western Kentucky 87-69 in the opening round and Colorado 81-77 in the round of 32.
Overall, the Golden Eagles have gone 27-9 on the season and 14-6 in Big East play. They finished the year ranked 8th in the AP Poll and 14th in the NET Rankings. Marquette went a combined 17-1 against Quad 2,3, and 4 opponents and 10-8 when facing Quad 1 teams. Their most notable wins came over Kansas, Illinois, and Texas. They faced the 10th most difficult schedule overall.
As a team, Marquette ranks 59th in the country in scoring by producing 78.6 points per game. They also rank 48th in offensive rating, tally the 31st-most assists, and shoot 48.2% from the field which is the 23rd-best percentage in the country.
On the defensive end, the Golden Eagles have allowed 69.9 points per game, which is the 109th best rate, and ranks 89th in defensive rating. This is a veteran squad with 84.7% of the minutes played and 83.7% of the scoring production having returned from last season.
They lost last year in the second round of the tournament at the hands of Tom Izzo’s Michigan State and have their sights set on a deeper run this year.
Tyler Kolek runs the show for Marquette on the offensive end. The reigning Big East Player of the Year has averaged 15.3 points, 7.9 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game this season.
Kolek had 21 points and 11 assists during the victory over Colorado in which he masterfully manipulated the pick and roll which led to the majority of the team’s success. In addition, Kameron Jones is the team’s leading scorer at 17.1 points per game.
Oso Ighodaro and David Joplin each also average in double figures and provide Marquette with a diversified offensive attack.
North Carolina State has been one of the better stories in college basketball of late. After seeming to be on the outside of the bubble ahead of the conference tournament, the Wolfpack went on to win five consecutive games to steal the conference title and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
Throughout the ACC Tournament and the start of the NCAA Tournament, they won seven games over just 12 days. Their NCAA Tournament victories came over 6-seeded Texas Tech in the opening round and over Oakland in overtime in the round of 32. Kevin Keatts has successfully escaped the hot seat and now has led the team to a 24-14 record despite their 9-11 record in ACC play.
They finished the season ranked 63rd in the NET Rankings and have struggled against top competition. NC State went just 4-8 in Quad 1 matchups, 6-5 versus Quad 2 opponents, and 14-1 when facing Quad 4 and 4 teams.
The Wolfpack play through the post and generate most of their offense from inside the three-point line. As a team, NC State ranks 250th in the country in three-point attempts but 50th in two-point attempts per game.
They also take excellent care of the basketball, turning it over at the 13th-best rate in the country. This will be put to the test against a Marquette defense that produces the 20th-most turnovers in the country.
NC State has underwhelmed on the defensive side of the ball this season. They rank 192nd in opponents' field-goal percentage, 238th in three-point percentage allowed, 252nd in rebounds allowed, and 139th in blocks.
Their style of play is made possible by the strong post-play of D.J. Burns. The 6-foot-9, 275-point power forward has humbly described his style of play as Hakkeem Olajawon with a Zach Randolph build and has captured the hearts of fans everywhere.
On the season he has averaged 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. NC State puts the ball in Burns’ hands often and allows him to be the primary decision-maker for their offense.
DJ Horne also provides the necessary balance from the guard position and has averaged 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 40.6% on three-point attempts. Jayden Taylor and Casey Morsell each also average in double-figures.
Marquette vs NC State odds
Below are the odds for this matchup, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Spread: Marquette -6.5 at -112 odds, NC State +6.5 at -108 odds
- Moneyline: Marquette -285, NC State +230
- Total: Over/Under 150 Points
Marquette vs NC State analysis
While NC State does have the “team-of-destiny” feel to them, Marquette has a fairly significant talent advantage in this matchup.
Expect the Golden Eagles to look to speed up the pace of play and prevent NC State from slowing it to a half-court matchup. As efficient as their half-court sets can be there are limitations to this style.
As productive as D.J. Burns is, he averages just 24.7 minutes per game. The overtime victory over Oakland is the first time Burns has eclipsed 28 minutes throughout the ACC and NCAA Tournament runs.
He played just 16 minutes in the opening-round victory over Texas Tech but still produced 16 points on 7-11 shooting from the field. His size and frame have limitations, but NC State will need to lean on him heavily for their interior attack and should have success against Marquette. Oso Ighodaro will likely receive the primary task of guarding Burns and is a terrific overall defender.
But at 6-foot-9 and 205 pounds, he will have some issues holding up physically against Burns' massive size.
Burns is also limited in his defensive ability. His rim protection is limited and he is also vulnerable in the pick-and-roll which is a huge point of concern.
Expect Marquette to look to expose him in these situations with Tyler Kolek leading the charge in these opportunities. Marquette has a lot of ways they can punish teams and are effective in getting out in transition. Look for them to speed up the pace of play and control the tempo throughout.
The pathway is laid for some efficient offense through transition play and in the pick-and-roll. NC State will not be able to keep up with this level of offensive attack and the game could get away if this becomes the case.
Marquette vs NC State pick
NC State has been a great storyline and has been a really fun team to watch of late. But the clock has to strike midnight on every Cinderella run and Marquette is set to steal the glass slipper.
The Golden Eagles have too much top-end talent and too many diverse ways they can win for NC State to be able to match this. For the Wolfpack to have a chance they will need some poor shooting from their opponent.
This matchup has a chance to be the biggest blowout in this round of games as it feels like the time is ticking for them to run out of of gas. If Marquette gets off to a rapid start things could fall apart quickly for the Wolfpack.
Expect Marquette to make this the case and secure a double-digit victory.
🏀 Bet on Marquette to cover the spread at +112 odds with DraftKings 🏀
Marquette vs NC State info
- Who: Marquette (2) vs NC State (11)
- Date: Friday, March 29th
- Time: 7:09 PM EST
- Venue: American Airlines Arena (Dallas, Texas)
- Where to watch: CBS
About the author
Sean Barnard
Sean Barnard has worked in sports media for the past five years. He has spent time as the 76ers Lead Writer for Philly Sports Network, Associate Editor at CluchPoints, Eagles Beat Reporter for YardBarker, and more. He also owns and operates his own Podcast Network called Pick Swap Media and is a radio host on Fox 102.5 The Gambler presented by iHeartMedia. Sean has written over 1500 articles and recorded over 500 podcasts and is just getting started. Based out of the Philadelphia region in the United States, Sean is a lifelong passionate sports fan who can be where he rattles off basketball breakdowns and other news.
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