The Ole Miss Rebels take on the NC State Wolfpack in Greensboro, NC. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
NC State is favored by -6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -260. The total is set at 147.5 points.
Here’s my Ole Miss vs. NC State prediction and college basketball picks for December 21, 2025.
Ole Miss vs NC State Prediction
My Pick: NC State -6.5
My Ole Miss vs NC State best bet is on the Wolfpack to cover. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Ole Miss vs. NC State Odds
| Ole Miss Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 147.5 -110o / -110u | +210 |
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 147.5 -110o / -110u | -260 |
- Ole Miss vs NC State spread: NC State -6.5
- Ole Miss vs NC State over/under: 147.5 points
- Ole Miss vs NC State moneyline: Ole Miss +210, NC State -260
Ole Miss vs NC State College Basketball Betting Preview
Ole Miss Basketball
Chris Beard’s Ole Miss squad sits at 7-4 on the year, a disappointing start following last March’s Sweet 16 appearance. The Rebels don't have a single Q1 or Q2 win and have been fairly average on both ends of the floor, ranking 72nd in KenPom offensive efficiency and 57th defensively.
Ole Miss prefers to play at a slower, half-court pace, ranking among the 50 slowest teams in the country.
Malik Dia is the key returnee from last season’s team. He's averaging 14.2 points per game and is coming off a 27-point outing in a win over Alabama A&M. Alongside Dia, AJ Storr and Ilias Kamardine are the other double-figure scorers.
Storr has found some new life after last season’s failure at Kansas, averaging 13.4 points per game while shooting an impressive 47.1% from 3. Kamardine, Tyrese Haliburton’s doppelganger who arrived from France, is putting up 12.6 points and 4.6 assists per game.
Outside of those three, Ole Miss has struggled to find consistent complementary offensive production.
When I think of Chris Beard, I think defense. This team, however, hasn't reached the standard we've come to expect. The Rebels do a solid job protecting the rim, ranking eighth nationally in block percentage and 48th in 2-point percentage defense.
While Ole Miss has been disappointing to start the season, its average margin of defeat is just five points. The Rebels were competitive on a neutral floor against Iowa and on the road at St. John’s.
NC State Basketball
NC State is off to an 8-4 start in year one under Will Wade. The Wolfpack have a couple of solid wins over VCU and Boise State, but they have losses to the four best teams they've faced: Seton Hall, Texas, Auburn and Kansas.
Wade made headlines following State’s 108-72 win over Texas Southern on Wednesday night, calling out his players for being too casual and lacking the competitive edge he expects.
In that win, sophomore Paul McNeil delivered a record-breaking performance, scoring 47 points and drilling 11 3s in just 27 minutes. That explosion came after four straight games in which McNeil played 18 minutes or fewer and scored seven points or fewer.
State’s star player — Darrion Williams — sat out that game while managing a shoulder injury. It was largely precautionary, and he's expected to play here.
Williams leads the Wolfpack with 16 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while shooting over 50% from the field and 44% from 3.
Quadir Copeland has been the heartbeat of the team so far, bringing infectious energy and strong perimeter defense. He's averaging 13.9 points per game with 5.5 assists.
Offensively, NC State has been excellent, ranking 19th nationally on KenPom. The Wolfpack take elite care of the ball, sitting 10th nationally in turnover rate, and they've shot it well from deep, hitting 38.9% from 3 on the season.
Defensively, Wade’s group has been solid but somewhat underwhelming, ranking 54th on KenPom. The Pack are a bit undersized with 6-foot-9 Ven-Allen Lubin starting at the five, contributing to a ranking outside the top 150 in 2-point percentage defense.
Because of their aggressive ball-screen coverage, opponents attempt a high volume of 3s, with 48% of opponent field goal attempts coming from beyond the arc.
Ole Miss vs. NC State Betting Analysis
This game will be played in Greensboro, making it a semi-home spot for NC State. Both teams are in need of a quality non-conference win, so there's plenty on the line.
Assuming Williams is good to go, I side with the Wolfpack here. Ole Miss’ offense is concentrated and stagnant, relying heavily on three players to create shots for themselves and others.
After Wade publicly challenged his team, I expect a strong effort from NC State. If Ole Miss ends up getting a heavy dose of open 3s like most Wolfpack opponents do, I'm not confident the Rebels can make them pay.
One sneaky note: Lubin fouled out in just 16 minutes last season when he played for North Carolina against Ole Miss in the tournament, spending time guarding Dia, who has about 20 pounds on him.
The number is a bit richer than I would like, but NC State is the side for me.
My Pick: NC State -6.5
