The Pitt Panthers play the NC State Wolfpack in the second round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday, March 11. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
NC State is favored by 8.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -315. Pitt, meanwhile, enters as a +8.5 underdog and is +255 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/unders sits at 144.5 total points.
Here are my Pitt vs. NC State predictions and college basketball picks for Wednesday, March 11.
Pitt vs NC State Prediction
My Pick: NC State ML (ML Parlay Target)
My Pitt vs NC State best bet is on the Wolfpack to win outright. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Pitt vs NC State Odds
| Pittsburgh Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | +255 |
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | -315 |
- Pitt vs NC State Spread: Pitt +8.5, NC State -8.5
- Pitt vs NC State Over/Under: 144.5 Points
- Pitt vs NC State Moneyline: Pitt +255, NC State -315
Pitt vs NC State College Basketball Betting Preview
NC State Basketball
NC State comes into Wednesday's ACC showdown posting a 19-12 overall record on the season, ready to meet Pitt in the second round of its ACC Tournament. The Panthers are coming off a comeback victory over Stanford by just one point.
In NC State head coach Will Wade’s first season at the helm, the Wolfpack are on a great trajectory to make the Big Dance, ranking near the top of the bubble, according to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi.
Wade was lured to Raleigh in March 2025 with a big six-year contract. He quickly made a significant impact, landing former Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams in the transfer portal to headline an impressive offseason upon his arrival.
Williams leads the charge for a Wolfpack offense that scores nearly 85 points per contest. The senior forward is posting 14-point, five-rebound figures on average in his final collegiate season.
Wade has a very experienced frontcourt that boasts stellar athleticism and offensive prowess — two vital characteristics of sleeper teams heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Alongside Williams, 6-foot-9 forward Ven-Allen Lubin is scoring nearly 14 points per game to go along with seven rebounds. The senior is converting on a shocking 68.9% of his field-goal attempts thus far, ranking second in college basketball.
Senior guard Quadir Copeland adds further experience and impressive scoring ability to Wade’s bunch.
The 6-foot-6 guard is the third Wolfpack player averaging 14 points per contest this season. Copeland, who followed Wade from McNeese State, also dishes out 6.8 assists, ranking 11th in the country.
The Wolfpack offense ranks an impressive 19th in the nation in offensive efficiency rating, per KenPom. The same can't be said on the other end of the floor, though, as Wade’s defensive unit allows upwards of 75 points per contest.
While the Wolfpack appear to be in a great spot with Selection Sunday coming up, a second-round defeat in the ACC Tournament could surely impact the team’s postseason aspirations.
Pitt Basketball
Pitt certainly hushed the critics in the first round of the ACC Tournament with a 64-63 victory over Stanford. The 15th-seeded Panthers have another opportunity for a big upset as they meet Wade’s NC State Wolfpack in the second round.
The 13-19 Panthers really showed their versatility on Tuesday afternoon with four of their five starters scoring in double figures.
Guard Barry Dunning Jr. is having quite the season, averaging over 12 points per game. Dunning was spectacular in the team’s win over Stanford, posting 16 points while recording eight rebounds.
The senior has an elite frame at the guard position, boasting tremendous length and athleticism. He's the type of player who can get hot in March.
In just his first season in Pittsburgh, Dunning has stepped up in a big way as the team’s senior leader. However, it will take a monstrous effort from the Panthers' guard to take down an NC State team that also features impressive size and athleticism.
Senior forward Cameron Corhen also had a phenomenal game in the team's first-round win, posting 12 points and seven rebounds to topple the Cardinal.
If the Panthers are to go on a Cinderella-esque run in the 2026 ACC Tournament, their senior leadership will certainly play a massive role.
When it comes to the young players, freshman forward Roman Siulepa has been impressive in his first collegiate season. The Australian is posting double-figure scoring efforts on average while also recording over five rebounds per game.
In the first postseason contest of his short collegiate career, the Aussie forward scored 14 points with seven rebounds. Pitt’s frontcourt really surprised me with exceptional play on Tuesday afternoon.
On the other end of the floor, the Panthers' woeful defense put up one of its best defensive efforts of the season, largely containing Stanford freshman phenom Ebuka Okorie, holding the Cardinal guard to just 14 points.
Pitt vs NC State Pick, Betting Analysis
The Panthers resume their underdog status in the second round of the ACC Tournament with a matchup against the seventh-seeded Wolfpack.
While I was surprised by how well the Panthers defense performed in its first round, they now face an NC State bunch that's very well-coached.
Siulepa was exceptional on the defensive end of the floor against Stanford, but matching up with a player like Williams is an entirely different ballgame.
The Panthers impressed on Tuesday night, but I don't think they have what it takes to advance to the third round against an experienced NC State team with the Big Dance on its mind.
I'll be looking to target the NC State moneyline in a few parlays — because I'm not crazy about laying several points on a neutral floor.
My Pick: NC State ML (ML Parlay Target)
