The Miami Hurricanes take on the NC State Wolfpack in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday, Feb. 14. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
NC State is favored by 6 points on the spread with a moneyline of -280. Miami, meanwhile, enters as a +6 underdog and is +230 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 155.5 total points.
Here’s my Miami vs. NC State prediction and college basketball picks for Saturday, February 14.
Miami vs NC State Prediction
My Pick: NC State -6 (Play to -7)
My Miami vs NC State best bet is on the Wolfpack to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Miami vs NC State Odds
| Miami Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 155.5 -110o / -110u | +230 |
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 155.5 -110o / -110u | -280 |
- Miami vs NC State Spread: NC State -6
- Miami vs NC State Over/Under: 155.5 points
- Miami vs NC State Moneyline: Miami +230, NC State -280
Miami vs NC State College Basketball Betting Preview
Miami Basketball
Miami enters this one coming off its best win in Year 1 of the Jai Lucas era, a 75–66 home victory over North Carolina.
The Hurricanes are 19-5 on the season, but with a lack of quality wins, they find themselves squarely on the bubble here in mid-February.
This Miami team is all about force, power and winning in the paint.
The Hurricanes rank top-27 nationally in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate. They're also shooting 59% inside the arc, the 15th-best mark nationally but rank second-to-last in the ACC in 3-point attempt rate.
Malik Reneau and Ernest Udeh Jr. form a strong, physical frontcourt duo that dominates the game on both ends.
Reneau is playing at a first-team All-ACC level, and his ability to score and facilitate out of the post is the backbone of this Miami offense.
Tre Donaldson has been an awesome lead guard for this team. He has had five or more assists in five of his last six contests, and his 16.5 points per game in ACC play ranks 12th in the league.
Those three veteran transfers are the heartbeat of the team, but the Canes have also been getting strong contributions from a few freshmen.
Shelton Henderson and Dante Allen are great athletes and have been fantastic at defending the perimeter. Both are shooting below 32% from deep, but they attack the basket well and have a solid feel.
NC State Basketball
Will Wade has instantly lifted the Wolfpack to borderline top-25 status in his first year in Raleigh.
NC State sits at 18-7 on the year and 9-3 in league play. The Pack were on a six-game win streak before suffering a 118-77 rout at the hands of Louisville on Monday night.
I’m not here to put too much stock in a Big Monday game off a day’s rest, at the KFC Yum! Center, where one of the best offenses in the country couldn’t miss.
Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell combined for 76 points, and the Cardinals shot 18-of-30 from deep. That’s a tough spot for NC State and a burn-the-tape game for me, especially for a team that was 6-0 on the road in ACC play entering that one.
The main theme with this NC State team has been the play of Darrion Williams. He’s been very inconsistent when it comes to shooting and scoring the basketball.
Over his last two games, he scored 12 points on 4-of-22 shooting with just three assists. In each of the three games prior, he scored 20-plus and hit five or more 3-pointers.
It has become clear to me that the engine of this NC State team isn’t Williams — it’s Quadir Copeland. Copeland leads the ACC in both assists and steals, and entering the Louisville game, he had dished out nine or more assists in five straight.
NC State checks in at 21st in offensive efficiency, per KenPom, and 44th in defensive efficiency.
Offensively, the Pack take elite care of the basketball, ranking 13th in turnover rate. They’re also shooting a lights-out 39.5% from deep, with Williams, Copeland, Paul McNeil and Tre Holloman all shooting above 41%.
Defensively, this group looks to force turnovers and force opponents into a high volume of 3-point attempts.
Miami vs NC State Pick, Betting Analysis
This spot sets up nicely for State. The Pack enter this one off extra rest, returning home after an embarrassing loss in prime time.
I'm siding with State here because I think it has the requisite offensive acumen to score effectively against this Miami defense.
With the way Copeland can break guys down off the bounce and the way NC State can shoot the 3-ball — especially on its home court — they should be able to succeed.
Also, the way NC State packs it in and makes teams shoot will be tough for Miami, because it would rather live in the paint.
As long as Ven-Allen Lubin, Musa Sagnia and Williams don't get dominated on the interior and on the defensive glass, I expect State to get up and down, score enough, and win and cover here.
And finally, our very own Evan Abrams has a reliable featured Bet Labs system on Sports Insights that likes this selection, making me a bit more confident in the pick.
My Pick: NC State -6 (Play to -7)
