A few weeks ago, NC State had no chance to reach the NCAA Tournament unless it won the ACC Tournament as an extreme long-shot … and that’s what the Wolfpack did. Somehow, they have kept the run going in the Dance as No. 11 NCSU faces No. 1 Purdue in the Final Four on Saturday.

Purdue and NC State have split four modern-era meetings, the last in December 2021 in Brooklyn when the Boilers were ranked No. 1 in the country and needed OT to beat the Wolfpack, 82-72. Purdue trailed 54-41 with just over nine minutes to play but outscored NCSU 41-18 over the last 14 minutes (including overtime) to earn the victory.

NC State Wolfpack vs. Purdue Boilermakers 2024 March Madness Final Four Game Information

.@BoilerBall is back at the #MFinalFour for the third time since 1980. Will the Boilermakers win their first-ever National Championship in Phoenix? pic.twitter.com/lPkMW8V8Qj

— NCAA Men's Final Four (@MFinalFour) April 3, 2024

• When: Saturday, April 6th, 2024 at 6:09 pm ET
• Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
• TV: TBS
• Radio: NOW 100.7 FM (NC State) // WAZY 96.5 FM (Purdue)
• Live Stream: March Madness Live
• NCAAB Betting Odds: NC State (+9) // Purdue (-9)

Why Bet on the NC State Wolfpack?

I believe this run by NC State is the greatest in NCAA Tournament history, even if it loses Saturday. I mean, entering the ACC Tournament this team was +100000 to win it because it was 17-14, on a four-game skid and Coach Kevin Keatts reportedly was going to be fired. The Wolfpack are the sixth all-time No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four. The previous five all lost in the semifinals. No double-digit seed has ever advanced to the NCAA title game.

NC State (26-14) upset Duke in the Elite Eight last Sunday, 76-64, despite trailing by six at halftime. DJ Burns, Jr. has been one of the stars of this tournament and led the Pack with a season-high 29 points against Duke, while DJ Horne added 20. Michael O’Connell added a career-high 11 rebounds and passed out a season-high six assists.

NC State shot 73.1 percent in the second half and outscored Duke, 55-37, to turn a six-point halftime deficit into the Blue Devils first double-digit loss of the season. The Wolfpack did not miss consecutive shot attempts in the second half and held Duke to just 32.2 percent shooting for the game, the lowest field goal percentage for an NC State opponent this season.

It was the sixth straight NCSU opponent held under 40% shooting, the school’s longest streak since 2008 and was only the 2nd time in the last 29 years they won consecutive meetings against Duke as they also upset the Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament. Burns scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half as he made nine of his 11-second half field goal attempts and was named the South Region’s Most Outstanding Player.

“I’ll say like I’ve been saying the whole tournament. When I stop having fun with basketball, I’ll stop playing,” said Burns. “There’s just been a total switch in our commitment. Nobody’s being late to things. Nobody’s being a problem on the court. Everybody’s come together.”

N.C. State has put up respectable numbers in the NCAA Tournament (47.2% from the field, 34.6% on 3s and 72.7% free throws), but it has held opponents well below their averages (35.3% from the field and 23.9% on 3s). The Wolfpack have done no better than break even in turnovers and hold a slight rebounding edge. It’s the fourth Final Four appearance in school history and first since 1983. The 14 losses are the most by any school to reach the national semifinals.

Why Bet on the Purdue Boilermakers?

Purdue spent some time at No. 1 in the polls this season and has been Top 5 all year, led by two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Zach Edey, who next week should win his second straight Wooden Award as National Player of the Year. Only the legendary Ralph Sampson also won that twice.

After averaging 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds last season, Edey has been even more dominant this season in leading Purdue to the Final Four. He leads the nation in scoring, averaging 25.0 points, while ranking third in rebounding with 12.2 boards. Edey is averaging 30.0 points and 16.3 rebounds in four NCAA Tournament games. He is the fourth player in the last 70 years to average at least 30 points and 15 rebounds through four games of a Big Dance, joining Elvin Hayes, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain.

In the Elite Eight win over Tennessee, Edey became the first player with at least 40 points, 15 rebounds and 60% field goal shooting in a game since Houston’s Hayes in 1968. Edey is the first player to lead the Division in scoring and the Final Four since Oscar Robertson in 1960. Edey could return to Purdue next season if he wanted and maybe go down as the best NCAA player ever but has already said he’s turning pro. He is not considered a sure-fire NBA prospect.

He’s the anchor of a Purdue team that’s second in the country in 3-point shooting (40.6%). Sunday’s win proved, however, that the Boilermakers can win ugly (3-for-15 from beyond the arc) because of Edey.

NC State vs. Purdue Betting Trends

• NC State is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 games.
• Wolfpack are 9-0 SU in its last 9 games.
• The total went over in 6 of NC State’s last 7 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
• Purdue is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games.
• Boilermakers are 10-1 SU in its last 11 games.
• The total went under in 4 of Purdue’s last 6 games.

NC State vs. Purdue 2024 Final Four Expert Prediction

NC State takes the win and heads into the Championship Game on April 8th.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2024 March Madness Tournament previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest college basketball odds on our online Crypto sportsbook.

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