Troy Trojans vs NC State Wolfpack Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 2
NC State is 3-0 and allowing 62.3 points per game, but Troy gets a large cushion in Raleigh after a 22-win season last year.
The Matchup
NC State is unbeaten at 3-0 and has looked dominant at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, scoring 84.7 points per game and allowing just 62.3 this season. The Wolfpack, from the Atlantic Coast Conference, went 20-14 last season. Troy arrives at 1-2 from the Sun Belt Conference, scoring 67.3 per game and allowing 77.0 this season, a sharp early dip for a program that went 22-12 last season while scoring 79.3 per game.
The numbers here blend this season with last season because both teams have played fewer than eight games, and for Troy that blend keeps faith with a team that won last season with balance and scoring depth, even though Donovan Oday and his teammates have started slowly this fall. Oday leads Troy at 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, with Jacoi Hutchinson adding 4.3 assists per game.
NC State is led by Ven-Allen Lubin at 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, with Preston Edmead adding 6.3 assists per game. Oday, Lubin and Edmead carry no injury designations.
Key Factors
NC State should win this game, and the only question is margin. Lubin controls the paint, Edmead creates clean looks, and the Wolfpack defense has been excellent through three games. That combination can bury a visitor early, especially if Troy continues to struggle to score at its early season rate.
The counterpoint that keeps Troy live is the size of the number against a team with a proven recent baseline. Troy won last season by scoring in volume, and Oday gives the Trojans a frontcourt scorer who can finish possessions and slow runs by getting to his spots. If Troy values the ball and makes NC State execute in the half court for forty minutes of basketball, the Wolfpack can win comfortably without clearing a margin this large. A late rotation stretch with the game decided also favors the visitor.
NC State is clearly the better team at home, but Troy has enough scoring pedigree and frontcourt presence to avoid a complete runaway in Raleigh. Take Troy Trojans +22.5 at -108.
Game Information
| Date | Friday (11/13) |
|---|---|
| Start Time | 6:00 PM CT |
| How to Watch | ACC Network |
| Venue | Lenovo Center, Raleigh |
| Spread | NC State Wolfpack -22.5 |
| Total | 147.5 |
| Moneyline | NC State Wolfpack -6,500 |
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