North Carolina State vs. Kansas Odds, Picks, and Predictions (11/23/22)

As we are still young into this new College Basketball season, we are in the midst of the non conference tournament season as teams around the country play in various small tournaments against other tough teams to get a sense of what their team is made of.  One of the more notable tournaments is the Battle 4 Atlantis played down in the Bahamas.  This year the tournament features teams such as Butler, BYU, Dayton, USC, Tennessee and Wisconsin.  It also features these two teams playing in one of the opening games as the North Carolina Wolf Pack and the Kansas Jayhawks tip off. 

This will certainly be one of the main headline games as it features the reigning national champions and No. 3 ranked Kansas Jayhawks.  This is a different looking team as leading scorer from last season Ochai Agbaji has left for the NBA, and now this team is led by Jalen Wilson and freshman 5-star Gradey Dick.  They have started the early season out undefeated with a win against another top-ten team in Duke, but did have a scare at home against Southern Utah they narrowly escaped from.

North Carolina State has started this short season out undefeated as well, and the team is looking sharp offensively.  They have yet to play any major competition yet, so the Jayhawks will certainly give them a test.  NC State has fallen on tough times as last season, they suffered 20 losses in a season for the first time in 100 years. 

They have also only reached the NCAA tournament once in Kevin Keatts’ six years and our projected be around a bubble team this season.  A win against the Jayhawks will certainly be needed to help the Wolfpack get back to what this program has been used to in the past century.  Let’s get into this game’s picks and predictions.

North Carolina State vs. Kansas Betting Odds

Unfortunately with the game two days away, there are no betting lines open just yet.  Kansas is looking as early win favorites according to ESPN Analytics with a 63.5 percent chance to beat the Wolfpack.  Both teams are undefeated but Kansas certainly has more talent on their side and just going off of last season’s numbers with the struggles NC State had, it will certainly be a challenge for them.   I would predict the spread line will be placed around 10 points overall or potentially more.
Kansas did have that close scare against Southern Utah but I think they will come out stronger in this one, playing like they did against Duke.  Both have had strong offenses so far, with NC State averaging 88.3 PPG and Kansas averaging 80.5 PPG.  Kansas has the advantage in rebounding and assists per game.  Kansas is currently averaging 41.3 RPG to NC State’s 37.8.

The over/under total has not been posted yet either but with both of these teams having high scoring averages, I would expect it to be relatively high.  Each team averaging around the 80s and scoring and letting up approximately 60 points allowed, it would make sense if it was around 140/150.

North Carolina State vs. Kansas Picks & Predictions

My pick: Kansas ML

I am riding with Kansas to move on in this game to move further in the Battle 4 Atlantis.  I wish I had actual odds and lines to ride with and will probably take a more certain pick once released.  I think NC State can keep this game close in the first half, but ultimately I think the depth and talent of Kansas will run away with it in the second half.  Jalen Wilson has been the number one guy for Kansas so far this season and has been on a tear.  He is averaging 24.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG.  Guard Terquavion Smith has been the best scorer for the Wolfpack as he is averaging 19 PPG and 5.3 Assists per game, leading the team in that category as well.

Key Matchup

Gradey Dick vs. NC State

Jalen Wilson is the star of Kansas but the player to look most out for is the freshman Gradey Dick.  Mr. Basketball in the state of Kansas and was a 5-star recruit that was featured in the McDonald’s All American Game.  He came into this season as one of the top shooters in the freshman class and has shown just that so far.  He has been averaging 16.8 PPG for the Jayhawks which is the second most for the team.  He showed a big game against Duke in the late minutes as well against Southern Utah, holding off an upset attempt.  If he can continue to be the Jayhawks’ go-to guy in late games, he will be pesky for all opposing teams this season.