The third-seeded North Carolina State Wolfpack are eyeing their first trip to the national championship game when they take on the top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks in a 2024 Final Four matchup in Cleveland on Friday. The Wolfpack (31-6), who are making their second-ever appearance in the Final Four and first since 1998, finished in a three-way tie for second in the ACC with Syracuse and Notre Dame at 13-5. The Gamecocks (36-0), who are competing in their sixth Final Four and fourth in a row, earned national championships in 2017 and 2022. NC State holds a 20-12 edge in the all-time series, with South Carolina winning the last meeting 66-57 in 2021.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The Gamecocks are 11.5-point favorites in the latest North Carolina State vs. South Carolina odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 139.5. Before making any South Carolina vs. NC State picks or predictions, see what women's basketball expert Calvin Wetzel has to say.
Wetzel, HerHoopStats.com lead betting writer, incorporates his mathematical background and strong knowledge of women's hoops to turn the site's prediction model into picks. Now Wetzel has turned his attention to women's college basketball after teaming up with Aaron Barzilai, a Ph.D. from Stanford. Since the start of the 2021-22 women's college basketball campaign, he is 1384-988 (+371.33 units). Wetzel also predicted 66 of 68 tournament teams this year, as well as 62 of 68 teams within one seed line, and correctly picked 13 of 16 second-round games. Anybody following has seen huge results.
Now, he has set his sights on NC State vs. South Carolina and made his picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for South Carolina vs. NC State:
- South Carolina vs. NC State spread: South Carolina -11.5
- South Carolina vs. NC State over/under: 139.5 points
- South Carolina vs. NC State money line: South Carolina -900, NC State +600
- NCST: The Wolfpack are 9-3 against AP ranked teams this season
- SC: The Gamecocks are 7-0 on neutral courts in 2023-24
- South Carolina vs. NC State picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why South Carolina can cover
Senior guard Te-Hina Paopao has been a steady performer for the Gamecocks. In 35 games, all starts, she is averaging 10.9 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 rebounds in 27.6 minutes. She is in her first season at South Carolina after three years at Oregon. She was red hot to start the NCAA Tournament, scoring 18 points, while adding three assists in the 91-39 win over Presbyterian in the first round.
Junior guard Bree Hall is coming off a strong effort in the Elite Eight win over Oregon State. In that game, she scored 10 points, while adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 30 minutes. She had eight points and three assists in the win over Indiana in the Sweet 16. In 35 games, all starts, she is averaging 9.5 points, three rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.3 minutes. See which team to pick here.
Why NC State can cover
Senior forward Mimi Collins is coming off a 10-point and four-rebound performance in Sunday's Elite Eight win over Texas. It was her 21st double-digit scoring effort of the season. She has registered five double-doubles on the year, the last coming in a 69-43 win over Florida State in the ACC Tournament semifinals on March 9. The fifth-year senior has started 35 of 36 games, and is averaging 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in 28.8 minutes.
Also giving the Wolfpack offense a boost is senior center River Baldwin. The fifth-year player was dominant in the Elite Eight win over Texas, finishing with 16 points and two rebounds. She has reached double-digit scoring in four of the last five, including a 10-point and 11-rebound performance in the 64-45 first round win over Chattanooga on March 23. In 34 games, all starts, Baldwin is averaging 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 27.4 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make NC State vs. South Carolina picks
Wetzel has analyzed this matchup and he is leaning Under on the point total, while discovering a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's sharing what it is at SportsLine.
Who wins South Carolina vs. NC State, and what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread hits, all from the expert who's up 371 units since the start of the 2021-22 season, and find out.
