The No. 6 seed Texas Tech Red Raiders and the No. 11 seed NC State Wolfpack square off in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Thursday night. This is only the second game in school history between these teams. They played once in 1954, a game in which NC State beat Texas Tech 85-74. The Wolfpack have won five straight games, including an 84-76 win over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament final.
Tipoff from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh is set for 9:40 p.m. ET. The Red Raiders are 5-point favorites in the latest NC State vs. Texas Tech odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 146. Before making any Texas Tech vs. NC State picks, you need to check out the college basketball analysis from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Div. I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on North Carolina State vs. Texas Tech. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines and trends for Texas Tech vs. North Carolina State:
- NC State vs. Texas Tech spread: Red Raiders -5
- NC State vs. Texas Tech over/under: 146 points
- NC State vs. Texas Tech money line: Red Raiders -206, Wolfpack +170
- TTU: 15-17-1 ATS this season
- NCST: 16-17-2 ATS this season
- NC State vs. Texas Tech picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Texas Tech can cover
Senior guard Joe Toussaint is a shifty ball handler in the backcourt. Toussaint can get into the lane consistently and has great court vision as a playmaker. He leads the team in assists (4.3) and steals (1.4) to go along with 12.1 points per game. On March 14, Toussaint racked up 10 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
Junior guard Chance McMillan gives the Red Raiders a three-level scorer off the bench. McMillan has good shooting range but has the ability to attack the paint as well. The California native averages 10.9 points and four rebounds per contest. He's scored 14-plus points in three of his last four games. In the March 15 loss to Houston, McMillan totaled 15 points and five rebounds. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why NC State can cover
Senior guard DJ Horne can score in a variety of ways. Horne wins with speed to get past defenders but owns a reliable shot on the outside. The North Carolina native logs 16.9 points and 2.1 assists and shoots 41% from beyond the arc. In the win over UNC, Horne had 29 points and four rebounds.
Senior forward DJ Burns Jr. is an active player in the frontcourt. Burns Jr. takes efficient shots and has a knack for scoring in the low post. The South Carolina native averages 12.4 points and four rebounds and shoots 51% from the field. He's finished with at least 19 points in back-to-back games. In his last outing, Burns totaled 20 points, four boards and seven assists. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make NC State vs. Texas Tech picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 148 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.
So who wins Texas Tech vs. NC State, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 148-106 roll on its top-rated college basketball picks, and find out.
