Posted at 3:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle +258 BET365 +250 Sportsinteraction +250  888Sport +250

NC State +258 over Marquette

American Airlines Center - Dallas, TX

Men's Basketball Championship - South Region - Sweet 16

Streaming: CBS

7:09 PM EST. Here’s another “mid-range” ACC side taking on a “powerhouse” from a Power Six conference, as the Wolfpack of NC State, the only double-digit seed to make it to the Sweet 16, faces the Golden Eagles of Marquette, a #2 seed, in the first tip-off of the night.

We’ll start with Marquette, who got to the Sweet 16 by knocking out Western Kentucky (WKU) in Round 1 and Colorado in the Round of 32, but neither of those victories came easy. The Golden Eagles were down 7 points at halftime to WKU before pulling away to win 87-69, and Colorado went shot for shot with Marquette in a thrilling 81-77 game in Round 2. One of the reasons for the Golden Eagles' struggles is that they are overseeded as a #2, as they sit just 13th in the power rankings where they are sandwiched by a #5 seed in Gonzaga and a #4 in Alabama. Furthermore, Marquette is small, and that makes them a liability on defense and on the glass, which is a big problem considering what they are about to go up against.

“Can Marquette guard DJ Burns?” is the question that looms largest here as he outweighs anyone upfront for the Golden Eagles by 60 pounds. Everything NC State does goes through Burns, as he is a great passer and can clean up on the glass on both ends of the floor. NC State has a high ceiling here because of Burns, and they have guards that can score in bunches, don’t make mistakes, and don't turn the ball over (top-15 in turnover rate). Marquette’s offense is generated from its defense, which is what head coach Shaka Smart preaches, but if Burns is feeding off the glass like he is apt to do, those transition opportunities are not going to be there.

The Wolfpack were a +5-point pooch in their opening-round game versus Texas Tech, and then they were a -6.5 favorite over Oakland in the Round of 32, and now they are back to being an underdog against an overrated and overvalued #2 seed. Forget the #11 beside their names, as the Wolfpack are battle-tested after playing in the meat grinder that is the ACC. While there is some value in the Wolfpack taking back the points being offered up here, the value on them to win outright is too good to pass up because if they do cover the number, they are likely going to be in a position to win the game. Wolfpack outright.

Sherwood

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