The eighth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels are hosting the North Carolina State Wolfpack for an in-state and ACC rivalry showdown on Saturday afternoon as both teams prepare for the end-of-season conference tournament.
Read below for our NC State vs. North Carolina picks and preview for the game:
Although North Carolina sports betting does not launch until March 11, anyone interested in registering with a sportsbook like FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, and more, can unlock early sports betting bonuses with our North Carolina betting apps.
NC State vs. No. 9 North Carolina odds, preview and picks - March 2 college basketball odds
The Wolfpack are 17-11 but only 9-8 in conference play with losses in seven of their last 11 outings, including their most recent game against Florida State.
The team is paced by the scoring of guard DJ Horne, who averaged 17.5 per game and shoots 42.9% from beyond the arc. Even with his impressive season, the team is only 221st in effective field goal percentage and isn’t the most efficient offense.
NC State ranks 184th in points allowed per game (72.1) and 106th in scoring offense (76.2). The Wolfpack suffer on the boards, where they are only 250th in average margin (-1.3).
UNC is 22-6 and 14-3 in ACC play. They won three straight games in three different styles and now have just three losses in their last 18 outings.
ACC Player of the Year candidate RJ Davis leads the team with 21.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per night on 43/41/90 shooting splits. Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan all join the star guard in double-digit scoring for a squad that ranks 27th in scoring (81.5).
UNC is also 22nd in rebound differential and 28th in field goal percentage allowed (40.6%), giving them a nice balance with an experienced roster that is primed for a run in March Madness.
This is the second meeting between the two this season. UNC won the previous matchup on the road on Jan. 10, 67-54, behind 16 points from Davis. The Tar Heels shot 38.7% from the field and 33.3% from 3 as a team but held their rival to 27.3% shooting and 10% from beyond the arc.
College basketball predictions with Betr Picks: North Carolina vs. NC State player props
While North Carolinians can’t wager on college basketball just yet, North Carolina betting apps will be accepting wagers by March 11 and NC sports betting pre-launch registration began on Friday, March 1. Until then, those looking to place college basketball bets can do so by signing up for Betr with our Betr promo code in North Carolina.
Betr Picks is a Daily Fantasy app that allows customers to string together multiple selections into one entry, similar to a parlay at the sportsbook. The more picks in an entry, the more you can win! And depending on your playing style, you can opt to receive something back even if every pick doesn’t hit.
Register with Betr promo code BETFPB to claim a no-sweat first entry up to $250 as a welcome bonus. Simply pick More or Less on any of the allowable North Carolina vs. NC State props to get started, similar to an over/under.
North Carolina Sports Betting March 2024
Online sports betting is coming to North Carolina on March 11 and as of March 1, pre-registration will be live. This means you can sign up for various North Carolina sportsbook apps and reserve your NC sports betting signup bonuses. In most cases, the bonuses are more generous if you register before the official start date.
With NC online sports betting going live just in time for the 2024 ACC Tournament and the larger NCAA Tournament, there will be a considerable buzz around North Carolina betting apps such as Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, Bet365 and BetMGM.
North Carolinians will be able to wager on all ACC and NCAA Tournament games, including ones featuring Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest and other in-state programs. A huge range of professional sports will be available along with local teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes and Charlotte Hornets. The Carolina Panthers will become a huge part of the North Carolina betting scene in the fall when the NFL arrives, as will collegiate football programs around the state.
- ALSO READ: North Carolina Sportsbook Promos
- ALSO READ: North Carolina Sports Betting Launch Updates
- ALSO READ: 2024 March Madness Odds
While retail sports betting in North Carolina was legalized in 2019, NC online sports betting was officially signed into law on June 14, 2023 by Governor Roy Cooper. Initial plans called for a January 2024 launch, but delays pushed the project past the Super Bowl before plans were drawn up for March.
With a huge betting menu and an open market featuring multiple sportsbooks, the Tar Heel State is projected to take in $7 billion worth of bets in the first year as the industry creates a new stream of tax revenue for the state.
You must be over 21 to play. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. 1-800 GAMBLER.
Catena Media provides exclusive sports betting content to FrontPageBets, including picks, analysis, tools and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly.
Grant is a Virginia-based writer for Catena Media who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 with a degree in sports media & analytics. He has contributed to well-known publications such as Forbes, and appeared on the VSiN TV network. You can keep up with Grant's work here or by checking out his YouTube channel "The Sitch With Grant Mitchell.”
