NC State vs Purdue Predictions, Final Four Picks, Odds - March Madness

NC State's Cinderella run meets Purdue's dominance in Final Four clash. Can Wolfpack's defense slow down Boilermakers' offense? Betting tips included.

The highly anticipated Final Four tips off tonight with an exciting showdown between the No. 11 seed NC State Wolfpack and the No. 1 seed Purdue Boilermakers. The Boilermakers have been a dominant force all season, consistently ranked at the top of college basketball. On the other hand, the Wolfpack are the underdog Cinderella team of March Madness, entering the tournament as a long shot to win it all.

Purdue narrowly escaped the Elite Eight with a heroic performance from Zach Edey, who scored 40 points in a close 73-67 victory over Tennessee. Despite Edey's outstanding performance, the rest of the team struggled with shooting efficiency, highlighting potential weaknesses in their offense.

NC State, on the other hand, secured their spot in the tournament by winning the ACC Tournament and riding a nine-game winning streak into the Final Four. Their offense, led by sharpshooter D.J. Horne and big man D.J. Burns Jr., has been impressive, with four players averaging over 11 points per game.

The Wolfpack's ability to limit turnovers and set up their offense against Purdue's weak turnover defense could be a key factor in the game. Additionally, their improved 3-point defense will be crucial in containing Purdue's strong shooting from beyond the arc.

With Purdue's inconsistent 3-point shooting and NC State's strong defensive efforts, the Wolfpack have a good chance of covering the spread in this matchup. Guard Braden Smith's performance from beyond the arc will be a key factor to watch, as he has struggled to make multiple 3-pointers in recent games.

Overall, the matchup between NC State and Purdue promises to be an exciting and closely contested game. Betting trends suggest that Purdue may struggle to cover the spread as heavy favorites, making this Final Four showdown even more intriguing for college basketball fans.