wsn-newsletter Subscribe to WSN.

NC State vs. Oakland Odds, Picks, and Predictions

Contributors
Published March 23, 2024
5 min read
  • NC State got at least 16 points from four different players in its First Round win over Texas Tech

  • Oakland’s Jack Gohlke made 10 three-pointers in the team’s upset of Kentucky

  • Oakland forward Trey Townsend has three double-doubles in his last four games

There will be at least one double-digit seed going to the Sweet 16. That's because Saturday’s Round of 32 matchups include the no. 11 NC State Wolfpack facing the no. 14 Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the South Region. NC State pulled off a slight upset over Texas Tech in the First Round while Oakland was the talk of the tournament on the first full day after a shocking upset over Kentucky. It was Oakland’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win outside of the First Four, giving the Grizzlies a chance to get to the Sweet 16 while the Wolf Pack are aiming to return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015.

March Madness 2024 Odds Picks Predictions NC State vs. Oakland

Sports Betting Promos for NC State vs. Oakland

If you’re looking to place a bet on NC State vs Oakland, wait a moment. First, you should check out some of the welcome offers and other features being offered by the most prominent sportsbooks. This will help to point you in the right direction of the sportsbook that fits what you want before you start placing a bet on this game or any other game.

Sportsbook Welcome Offer Promo Code Sign-Up Here
DraftKings Sportsbook Get a No Sweat First Bet up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets No Code Necessary Claim Now
FanDuel Sportsbook Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins No Code Necessary Claim Now
BetMGM Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets WSNMGM Claim Now
Caesars Sportsbook $1,000 First Bet on Caesars OR $250 in Bonus Bets WSN1000 Claim Now
bet365 $1,000 Safety Net Bet OR $150 in Bonus Bets WSN365 Claim Now

Best March Madness Sportsbook Promos

How We Rate
Affiliate Disclaimer
21+

NC State vs. Oakland Predictions and Odds

NC State Predictions

Some questioned whether NC State could sustain its momentum after winning five straight games during the ACC Tournament just to get into the Big Dance. The Wolfpack emphatically answered those questions with an 80-67 win over Texas Tech. It’s starting to look like NC State’s four-game losing streak to close out the regular season is the aberration and not the team’s sudden hot streak.

Big man DJ Burns proved to be too tough for Texas Tech to handle in the first round. Despite foul trouble limiting him to 16 minutes, Burns scored 16 points against the Red Raiders. His backup Ben Middlebrooks also had a big game, coming off the bench to score 21 points. Meanwhile, Mohamed Diarra had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Texas Tech, as the NC State frontcourt dominated the game from start to finish and could prove to be a handful for Oakland on Saturday.

Of course, NC State is normally a guard-driven team. Leading scorer DJ Horne was hindered by an injury late in the regular season but has performed well since returning. He followed up his 29 points in the ACC Championship Game with 16 points against Texas Tech. Guards Jayden Taylor and Casey Morsell also average double figures, giving the Wolfpack a well-balanced attack if Diarra and Middlebrooks can continue to perform.

Oakland Predictions

The Grizzlies were able to take advantage of a porous Kentucky defense in the first round, upsetting the Wildcats with an 80-76 win. Jack Gohlke came off the bench and made 10 three-pointers, nearly tying the all-time tournament record. The key will be trying to replicate that success moving forward.

Gohlke is obviously a talented shooter, but his success on Thursday covered up a poor performance from the rest of the Oakland backcourt, which didn’t produce much offensively. Senior Blake Lampman was limited to just three points and one assist despite averaging 12.8 points per game on the season. He needs to be better if the Grizzlies are going to keep their Cinderella run alive.

Of course, Oakland's offense usually goes through forward Trey Townsend, who leads the team in points and assists with 16.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. He came up with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Kentucky for his third double-double in his last four games. However, Townsend will need more help from his supporting cast against NC State because Gohlke can’t be counted on to make 10 three-pointers again.

NC State vs. Oakland Pick

The Grizzlies have a world of confidence after knocking off Kentucky. However, facing NC State may not be a favorable matchup for them, which is why DraftKings has NC State favored by 5.5 points. The Wolfpack is stronger defensively, holding four of their last five opponents below 70 points. They have the athletes to contain Townsend and prevent Gohlke from having another big game. Meanwhile, Horne will be the best guard on the floor while the Grizzlies may not have an answer for Burns inside. Barring another great shooting performance from Oakland, NC State should be able to pull away in this game and cover the spread on its way to the Sweet 16.

  • Pick: NC State -5.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook

NC State vs. Oakland How to Watch

  • Teams: NC State vs. Oakland

  • Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: Saturday, March 23 at 7:10 PM EST

  • TV: ParaTBS

If you or someone you know needs support or wants to speak with a professional about responsible gambling, seek out the correct resources. Call 1-800-GAMBLER to get help, or visit www.1800gambler.net for more information. WSN is an advocate for safe gambling practices.

Bryan Zarpentine WSN Contributor

Bryan Zarpentine

Sports Betting Analyst

Expertise:
MLB
NCAAB
NFL
Online Sports Betting
Bryan Zarpentine is a 2008 graduate of Syracuse University and has been working as a freelance writer and editor since 2010. During that time, he has contributed to countless sites while covering baseball, soccer, the NFL, college football, and college basketball.
Email: [email protected]
Nationality: American
Education: Bachelor of Arts
Favourite Sportsbook: BetMGM Sportsbook
Favourite Casino: BetMGM Casino
Experience: 14 years
We've been featured on:
espn logo
reuters logo
cbs-news logo
forbes logo
entrepreneur logo
entrepreneur logo
We only list licensed sportsbooks
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
Co2neutral

We support responsible gambling. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you need help, call 1-800-Gambler.

WSN.com is managed by Gentoo Media. Unless declared otherwise, all of the visible content on this site, such as texts and images, including the brand name and logo, belongs to Innovation Labs Limited (a Gentoo Media company) - Company Registration Number C44130, VAT ID: MT18874732, @GIG Beach Triq id-Dragunara, St. Julians, STJ3148, Malta.

Advertising Disclosure: WSN.com contains links to partner websites. When a visitor to our website clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase at a partner site, World Sports Network is paid a commission.

Copyright © 2024