Oakland vs NC State Betting Odds: Wolfpack Small Favorites
Both Teams Pull Off First-Round Upsets
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies (24-11) face the NC State Wolfpack (23-14) in a second-round South Region matchup few people expected to see. No. 14 seed Oakland pulled off the biggest upset Thursday, while the Wolfpack were one of three No. 11 seeds to win.
The two teams combined to ruin a lot of college basketball expert picks on the NCAA brackets. Now the Wolfpack find themselves in the favorite’s role, as the Oakland vs NC State betting odds have the Wolfpack favored by 5.5. The total on the game is 146.
Golden Grizzlies vs Wolfpack 
Day/Time:
Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Streaming: TBS
Gohlke Lights it Up For Oakland
Jack Gohlke came up big for Oakland against Kentucky, making 10-of-20 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 32 points. The Golden Grizzlies shot 48.4% from 3-point range and just 34.4% from 2-point range in the game. Oakland was just 13 for 23 at the foul line in the most surprising of the NCAA Basketball Tournament scores.
With the win, Oakland improved to 21-13-1 against the spread this season and 9-3 ATS as an underdog. The Golden Grizzlies are 20-14-1 in totals for the season.
Oakland has shot the 3-pointer well all season, making 35.6% from long range. The Golden Grizzlies shot a few more than normal against Kentucky, but have always shot quite a few. Over the course of the season, 41% of Oakland’s field goal attempts were from 3-point range.
Oakland doesn’t shoot that well from 2-point range or get to the foul line a whole lot. The Golden Grizzlies are typically a better foul shooting team than they showed against the Wildcats. Oakland did have 14 offensive rebounds against Kentucky.
The defense isn’t a strong suit, although it did enough against the Wildcats. Kentucky shot 51.5% on 2-pointers, but 31.5% on 3-pointers. Those numbers aren’t too terribly far from Oakland’s season averages. Oakland did force 11 turnovers and that’s typically not a strong suit of the defense.
Wolfpack Winning as Underdogs
Thursday’s win over Texas Tech was the fifth straight win as an underdog for NC State. That won’t be the case here, as NC State is favored. The favorite’s role wasn’t a strength of the Wolfpack during the season. Despite going 15-4 straight-up, NC State is just 7-12 against the spread.
The Wolfpack are 7-3 ATS on neutral courts this NCAAB season and 21-14-2 in totals. NC State has won six straight games after closing out the regular season on a 4-10 skid. The Wolfpack are still among the longest shots for odds to win the NCAA Tournament at +11000.
NC State shot 55% on 2-pointers against the Red Raiders and 38.5% on 3-pointers. Both are about 4% higher than its season averages. The Wolfpack made a few more turnovers than normal, although it didn’t hurt them.
NC State doesn’t shoot many 3-pointers and that was again the case against the Red Raiders. The Wolfpack attempted 40 2-pointers and 13 3-pointers.
NC State’s defense isn’t bad and played well enough in the win over Texas Tech. The Wolfpack can force some turnovers and are pretty solid at 2-point defense.
The 3-point defense isn’t quite as good and they can allow some offensive rebounds. The Wolfpack has been better than average when it comes to sending NCAAB teams to the foul line.
What to Expect
Oakland does try to keep the pace down, while the opposition has made a habit of running against the Golden Grizzlies. The team ranks No. 313 in time per possession, but is just No. 23 in defensive time per possession.
Oakland uses up 18.7 seconds per possessions, while opponents hold the ball 16.6 seconds. The Wolfpack are the opposite, with NC State using 17 seconds each possession and opponents having the ball 18 seconds.
Neither team has shown a real strength or weakness when it comes to shooting. Both are ranked a little higher in 3-point shooting than 2-point field goals, while NC State has been a little better with its 2-point defense. Oakland could look to put up a few more 3-pointers again if they’re falling.
Who to Bet On?
The Oakland vs NC State betting odds are pretty much where you would expect. The Golden Grizzlies are more likely to have a little bit of a letdown following the first round NCAAB games. Kentucky is the biggest-name team Oakland has beaten all season.
North Carolina State has wins over the lines of UNC and Duke. Oakland has been a solid underdog all season, although it’s hard to ignore how the Wolfpack are playing right now.
The Oakland vs NC State betting odds on the total are a little tough to predict. Oakland’s defense leaves a bit to be desired at times.
The Wolfpack have been a little more consistent on defense, but have had some poor games. The tempo will play a big part in the outcome and it’s hard to get a decent read of what each team will look to do.
It’s hard to go against the Wolfpack the way they are playing right now, but the Golden Grizzlies offer a little more betting value. Take Oakland +5.5 in this one.
For NCAAB betting news, NCAAB odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
