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The NC State Wolfpack (31-6) and South Carolina Gamecocks (36-0) meet in a Friday semifinal at the Final Four in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Tip-off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland is slated for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the NC State vs. South Carolina odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The 3rd-seeded Wolfpack meet the top overall seed Gamecocks with a trip to the national title game on the line.
NC State won 64-45 in the 1st round against 14th-seeded Chattanooga at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, but the Wolfpack failed to cover as 25.5-point favorites as the Under (120.5) cashed. In the 2nd round, also at Reynolds, the Wolfpack pushed past the Tennessee Lady Vols 79-72, covering as 5.5-point favorites with the Over (140.5) connecting.
The Wolfpack were underdogs against 2nd-seeded Stanford in the Sweet 16 in Portland, but NC State won 77-67 as a 4.5-point underdog as the Over (134.5) cashed for a 2nd straight outing. NC State then bumped off a No. 1 seed in the Regional Final, topping Texas 76-66 as a 5.5-point underdog, cashing the Over (136.5) for the 3rd consecutive contest.
NC State is 20-17 against the spread (ATS) in games with a line this season, and it is 2-0 ATS in 2 games as an underdog of 5.5 points or more. The Over has a slight 19-18 edge.
For South Carolina, it paddled 16th-seed Presbyterian 91-39 in the opening round, even with C Kamilla Cardoso out due to suspension. The Gamecocks didn’t cover the huge 54.5-point line and the Under (130.5) hit. In the 2nd round, North Carolina provided very little resistance as South Carolina rolled 88-41 to cover as a 22-point favorites, as the Under (135.5) hit again.
In the Sweet 16, 4th-seeded Indiana came to play, and South Carolina narrowly escaped with a 79-75 win. Cardoso had 22 points and 7 rebounds, but Carolina came nowhere near covering as a 16.5-point favorite and the Over (143.5) cashed. In the Elite 8 round, South Carolina dispatched No. 3 seed Oregon State 70-58, but again, the Gamecocks failed to cover as 15.5-point favorites as the Under (134.5) hit.
South Carolina has obviously been dominant this season, but it is just 15-17 ATS games with a line, while the Over has a slight 17-16 edge when a total was offered.
NC State vs. South Carolina odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook’s; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:57 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): NC State +550 (bet $100 to win $550) | South Carolina -800 (bet $800 to win $100)
- Against the spread: NC State +11.5 (-110) | South Carolina -11.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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NC State vs. South Carolina and predictions
Prediction
South Carolina 74, NC State 67
Moneyline
South Carolina (-800) will cost 8 times the potential return. While the Gamecocks are unbeaten, there is no way to justify risking that much for such a small return.
NC State (+550) has already shown an ability to bump off a No. 1 seed, ousting Texas, and it sent No. 2 Stanford packing, too. Coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks will certainly have their hands full with C River Baldwin, G Aziaha James and the upstart Wolfpack.
AVOID.
Against the spread
NC STATE +11.5 (-110) is a strong play catching double digits in this national semifinal.
South Carolina, while certainly dominant in the win-loss column, is just 1-3 ATS in this tournament. Meanwhile, State has covered 3 straight, including the past 2 outright wins as an underdog.
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Over/Under
OVER 139.5 (-110) is the lean and worth a half-unit play at most.
The total has gone high in 3 straight games for the Wolfpack, while the Over has cashed just once in 4 NCAA Tournament games for the Gamecocks.
Still, we should see enough offenses from both sides to push this one just across the finish line for an Over.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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