The men’s NCAA Tournament Final Four tips off on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz., with a Cinderella team hoping the clock is delayed from hitting midnight.
In the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, 11th-seeded North Carolina State will try to continue its improbable run through the tournament, taking on top-seeded Purdue.
Let’s take a look at the North Carolina State vs. Purdue matchup (6:09 p.m. ET, TBS) and make a pick.
North Carolina State vs. Purdue odds
Spread: N.C. State +9.5 (-114), Purdue -9.5 (-106)
Moneyline: N.C. State +350, Purdue -465
Total: Over 146.5 (-110), Under 146.5 (-110)
Odds via FanDuel
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North Carolina State vs. Purdue prediction
In jeopardy of not even making the NCAA Tournament, N.C. State continued its run to the Final Four by upsetting Marquette and Duke last week to extend their overall winning streak to nine games.
The Wolfpack ran the table in the ACC Tournament with five wins in five days and have not let up in the Big Dance.
N.C. State will be back in the underdog role for the eighth time in nine games against Purdue. The top-seeded Boilermakers out of the Midwest Region outlasted Tennessee, 72-66, in the Elite Eight to reach their first Final Four since 1980.
All-American center Zach Edey torched Tennessee for 40 points, while picking up at least 14 rebounds in all four tournament wins. Purdue has covered the spread in all four victories, while limiting each opponent to under 69 points.
The Wolfpack are riding a 7-0 run against the spread in the underdog role, holding their last six foes to 17 made 2-point field goals or fewer. Purdue has converted 27, 23 and 21 2-point field goal attempts in its last three wins.
Stopping Edey is the top priority for the Wolfpack, who have found a way to slow down some of the top teams in the country over the last three weeks.
North Carolina State vs. Purdue pick
Both of these teams are on great runs against the spread, but Purdue’s defense has been elite and the Boilermakers are off a pair of wins over strong opponents like Gonzaga and Tennessee.
