North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Prediction: Heels Seek Top NCAA Tournament Seed

North Carolina State has made a Cinderella run in the ACC Tournament. The Wolfpack were the first double-digit seed to reach the semifinals since 2010 and prevailed against Virginia in that matchup. 

The win over the Cavaliers punched their ticket to the ACC Championship against North Carolina. The Tar Heels were projected to be in the big game, and they’re here. North Carolina will likely receive a top seed in the NCAA Tournament if they win. 

Even though the Tar Heels are the better team, it should be a difficult matchup. North Carolina State has beaten Duke and Virginia, two of the top seeds in the ACC, en route to the championship. 

Here, we will break down the game and give our best bets for the ACC Championship.

North Carolina State vs. North Carolina Betting Odds for Saturday, March 16th

North Carolina is listed as an 8.5-point favorite on FanDuel Sportsbook. The championship game features all North Carolina teams, which is perfect timing for sports betting in the state. 

Mobile sports betting launched in North Carolina on March 11. FanDuel Sportsbook has one of the best registration promos in the state. If you bet $5 on FanDuel Sportsbook, you’ll receive $250 in bonus bets. 

This deal is too good to resist before the ACC Championship. Make sure you register through our exclusive link to take advantage of the deal as a new customer in North Carolina. 

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

North Carolina State vs. North Carolina Preview

North Carolina State has dominated every team in their path during the ACC Tournament. Their tournament run started on Tuesday against Louisville. 

They beat Louisville by ten before taking down Syracuse in the second round on Wednesday. They had a close matchup against Duke in the quarterfinal, winning 74-69. Yet, the Wolfpack controlled the entire tempo of the game. 

Duke was a better team than Virginia, so the Wolfpack left no doubt in the semifinal, taking down Virginia by eight points in overtime.

NC State is having a fantastic run, but their toughest matchup of the tournament will occur on Saturday. North Carolina doesn’t slip up against inferior opponents. 

North Carolina State played North Carolina in Chapel Hill on March 2, losing by seven. They also played on January 10 and were beaten by 13 on their home floor. Based on past results, the pick should be easy. 

Despite this, we expect the ACC Tournament to come down to the wire. NC State is loaded with stars like DJ Horne, who can compete. 

Horne provides a spark for the Wolfpack, scoring 16 points per game. He is also over an 80% free throw shooter, which is a significant part of why he is such a leader. 

Mohamed Diarra has also been dominant on the glass for NC State. He grabs 7.2 rebounds per game and has contributed on the offensive glass. 

However, we anticipate the onslaught of North Carolina stars to be too much for the Wolfpack in the final minutes. Armando Bacot, one of the most dominant bigs in the country, averages 10.1 rebounds per game. 

The Tar Heels should be fine as long as Bacot stays out of foul trouble. North Carolina also has a great scorer in RJ Davis, who sparked the team in the ACC semifinal against Pittsburgh.

North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. North Carolina Tar Heels  Prediction and Betting Pick

Based on their ACC Tournament resume, NC State deserves a lot of respect coming into this matchup. However, North Carolina is a top team, and we expect them to take care of business. 

The best teams can respond when they’re punched in the mouth. The Wolfpack will throw punches, but look for UNC to respond and ice the game down the stretch with Davis and Bacot. 

• North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Pick: North Carolina -8.5 (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
  

How to Watch North Carolina State vs. North Carolina

• When: Saturday, March 16th @ 8:30 PM ET

• Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

• TV: ESPN

• Streaming: ESPN+

  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.