NC State vs Purdue Prediction & Best Bets: Who Will Prevail in Glendale?

After he spurned the NBA to play one more season in college, Zach Edey and Purdue are two wins from the program’s first national championship. Will Cinderella story NC State put a wrench in the Boilermakers’ hopes and plans?

With Edey leading the way, Purdue (33-4) is ending the season in Glendale, Arizona a year after their season ended at the hands of #16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in Columbus, Ohio.

Given that this is their first Final Four trip since 1980 and only the third in program history, the Boilermakers have already secured one of their best-ever seasons.

But with a win over NC State (6:09 pm ET, TBS), Purdue will reach the national title game for the first time since 1969.

NC State’s Final Four drought wasn’t as long as Purdue’s, as their previous appearance was in 1983, when they stunned Houston for the title. But unlike the Boilermakers, the Wolfpack (26-14) weren’t expected to be here.

However, they have now won nine consecutive games that they absolutely had to win to keep their season alive. That run includes victories over UNC (ACC Tournament championship game), Marquette (Sweet Sixteen), and Duke (Elite Eight),

Does NC State have at least one more upset in them? Read on for a prediction and best bets for the first of tonight’s national semifinals.

NC State vs Purdue Odds

Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments.

Spread

• NC State +9 (-107)
• Purdue -9 (-113)

Over/Under

• Over 146.5 (-110)
• Under 146.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• NC State +345
• Purdue -425

Looking for more college basketball picks? Our NCAA basketball picks page features moneyline, spread, and total (over/under) picks for today’s men’s Final Four games (NC State vs Purdue and Alabama vs UConn).

NC State vs Purdue Prediction & Best Bets

Can NC State’s DJ duo deliver again to pull one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history?

Against Duke in the Elite Eight, Burns (29 points, 13 of 19 FG, 3 of 4 FT) and Horne (20 points, 7 of 16 FG, 2 of 6 3PT, 4 of 5 FT) combined to deny the Blue Devils, who led by six at halftime.

What happened after Duke didn’t put NC State away in the first half should serve as a warning sign for Purdue.

No, the game would not have been over even if the Blue Devils had a double-digit lead at halftime. But to be held to only 21 points but manage to be within two possessions was a win for the Wolfpack, who went out with a head of steam in the second half and outscored the Blue Devils 55-37.

NC State vs Purdue Players to Watch

NC State

• DJ Burns Jr.: 13.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 53.4% FG
• DJ Horne: 16.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 40.9% 3PT

Purdue

• Zach Edey: 25.0 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.2 BPG, 2.0 APG
• Braden Smith: 12.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 43.9% 3PT

Can they get a lead or stay within striking distance long enough to set up a potential shock? After dispatching Marquette and Duke in the last two rounds, doubting NC State at this point would be silly, even against Purdue.

But Purdue has shown a lot in this tournament as well. In the second round, they torched a strong Utah State team by 39 points. Then they became only the fourth team to score 80+ points this season against Gonzaga in their Sweet Sixteen win. And in the Elite Eight, they survived a monster game by Dalton Knecht (37 points, 14 of 31 FG, 6 of 12 3PT, 3 of 4 FT).

What does that spell for Purdue? I think this game could end up much like last night’s NC State-South Carolina matchup. The Gamecocks led by one at halftime, then took over in a big, big way in the third quarter.

I think the Wolfpack will be able to stay in the game for a while, but ultimately the Boilermakers will pull away to win by a comfortable margin.

NC State vs Purdue Prediction: Purdue to win and cover

NC State vs Purdue Best Bets: Purdue -9 & NC State/Purdue first half over 68.5

More March Madness Betting Information

Where Can You Bet on March Madness This Year?

Each year, millions upon of millions of March Madness bets are placed at the top online sports betting sites.

Most March Madness betting takes place around and at tournament time, which is from mid-March to early April. But throughout the year, you can bet on who you think will win the college basketball national championship.

Along with men’s college basketball odds, most good sportsbooks now carry women’s college basketball national championship odds. Those odds are drawing a lot of attention with the likes of South Carolina, Iowa, and LSU vying to cut down the nets in Cleveland, Ohio on April 7.

Numerous sportsbooks are good for March Madness betting, but in addition to BetOnline, here are some of the books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetDSI (Review)
• BetUS (Review)
• Bovada (Review)
• MyBookie (Review)

If you are unfamiliar with any of the above sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about them. Speaking of offers, keep an eye on the latest sportsbook offers from these books and others as the countdown to the opening tip of March Madness continues. That way, you will not miss out on any special sports betting promos and bonuses to pad your bankroll for March Madness betting.

Other March Madness Content at Betting News

If you like this NC State vs Purdue betting breakdown and would like to check out our other March Madness content, our March Madness guide is where you can find it all in one tidy place. But here’s a rundown of some of what we have put together to help you with your NCAA Tournament betting this year.

We’re also covering the 2024 NIT, so check out that content as well.

• Men’s March Madness Futures Odds
• Women’s March Madness Futures Odds
• 2024 Men’s Final Four Odds
• Six Men’s March Madness Sleepers for 2024
• Best March Madness Betting Tips & Strategies
• Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
• Best March Madness Betting Sites for This Year
• This Year’s Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
• Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge!)

Interested in Learning More About Betting on March Madness & NCAA Basketball?

If you are interested in learning more about betting on men’s or women’s NCAA basketball, check out our college basketball betting guide. It covers the basics of wagering on March Madness, the Mountain West, the MAAC, McNeese State, and beyond.

• College Basketball Betting Guide: How to Bet on NCAA Basketball in 2024

Also, follow Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok to get more March Madness and NCAA basketball insight from myself and the rest of our team. We’re cooking up a lot of great NCAA Tournament content for both the men’s and women’s tournaments, so hit those links so you don’t miss out on any of it.

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