College Basketball: Florida State vs. NC State Prediction: March 12th 2010

Florida State vs. NC State
Free Prediction: North Carolina State +6
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Sidney Lowe’s Wolfpack have made some impressive runs in the ACC tournament before. In Lowe’s first year on the job, he guided NC State to upset wins over Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech before coming up short in the finals against North Carolina; a perfect 4-0 ATS during that amazing run.

This NC State team looks more than a little like that team from three years back. They’ve played their best ball late in the season, riding a 4-1 SU and ATS run in their last five ballgames. The Wolfpack are playing tremendous defense, ‘in your face’ on every possession. Their halfcourt offense is really starting to click – this team doesn’t need easy transition buckets to score. Their big man is dominating, as Tracy Smith has clogged up the low post. And they are finally making free throws after struggling at the line for most of the season.

NC State beat Florida State in Tallahassee in their lone previous meeting this season, despite an off-night from Smith: 1-8 shooting in 26 foul plagued minutes. And there’s no reason to think the Wolfpack won’t be able to give Florida State all kinds of trouble here either. Florida State’s offense is like nails grinding on a chalkboard, unable to extend margins as a result. That’s why the Seminoles are 3-11 ATS as a favorite of 20 points or less this year, a trend that should continue tonight. 2* Take NC State. (#831)