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The Delaware State Hornets (14-17) and North Carolina Central Eagles (18-12) meet in the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament Friday at the Norfolk (Va.) Scope Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Delaware State vs. North Carolina Central odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
No. 6 seed Delaware State surprised 3rd-seeded South Carolina State 71-58 Thursday night in the quarterfinals. The Hornets were a 2.5-point underdog, and the Under (134.5) connected. Del State entered the tournament just 1-4 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in the past 5 games.
No. 2 seed North Carolina Central took care of No. 7 seed Maryland-Eastern Shore in the Quarterfinals on Wednesday, but it was a tussle. The Eagles were 9-point favorites, but didn’t get separation against UMES until the final moments, winning 87-81 as the Over (133.5) easily connected.
NCCU faced Del State twice during the regular season, with the Eagles sweeping the series. It won 69-66 on the road Jan. 29 as a 2.5-point favorite as the Over (134) cashed, and it won 93-81 in Durham on Feb. 26 as a 6-point favorite, also hitting the Over (135.5). The Over is a common theme for the Eagles, cashing in 9 straight outings.
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Delaware State vs. North Carolina Central odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:41 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Delaware +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | NC Central -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Delaware State +4.5 (-105) | NC Central -4.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Delaware State vs. NC Central picks and predictions
Prediction
NC Central 78, Delaware State 69
Moneyline
North Carolina Central (-225) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return straight up, and while it swept the regular-season series with Delaware State (+180), that is still a rather risky play.
AVOID, and look to the spread instead.
Against the spread
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL -4.5 (-115) is worth a look, as the 2-seed looks to advance to the title game, and a chance at the automatic bid. The Eagles have been humming along with 5 wins in the past 6 games, while going 4-2 ATS during that span.
On the flip side, Delaware State +4.5 (-105) hasn’t been as consistent. The Hornets bumped off UMES to advance in the tourney, but it has won just twice in the past 6 games, and 4 times in the past 12, while going a dismal 2-4 ATS across the past 6, and 5-8 ATS in the previous 13 outings, including 0-2 ATS vs. NCCU.
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Over/Under
OVER 137.5 (-105) is the best play on the board in this MEAC quarterfinal action.
The Eagles have been an Over machine lately, cashing high on the total in 9 consecutive outings dating back to Feb. 5. It also has cashed the Over in both regular-season meetings with Delaware State, including 174 combined points on a total of just 135.5 in the most recent meeting in Durham on Feb. 26.
Del State hasn’t been nearly as prolific, but the Over is 3-2 in the past 5 outings.
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