NC State vs Virginia Tech Basketball Prediction & Picks: Will the Hokies end their losing streak tonight?

After three close losses, Virginia Tech is in must-win mode tonight as they host NC State, who is fresh off of a big win over Duke.

Tonight’s matchup between the Hokies (11-4, 1-3 ACC) and Wolfpack (12-4, 2-3 ACC) is set for a 7:30 pm tip at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, and all of the action can be seen on the ACC Network or ESPN app.

The Hokies wrapped up 2022 with a five-point overtime loss at Boston College and a two-point loss at Wake Forest, and they opened the new year with a three-point home loss to Clemson on Wednesday.

So, they are in need of a win any way can they get it tonight against NC State, who throttled Duke 84-60 on Wednesday at home.

A win tonight would be a boost for either team’s aspirations of being an NCAA Tournament team, so this is a big game on both sides. Who will take the win in Blacksburg? Read on for our NC State vs Virginia Tech prediction and picks.

NC State vs Virginia Tech Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 2:50 pm ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• NC State +5.5 (-110)
• Virginia Tech -5.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 144.5 (-105)
• Under 144.5 (-115)

Moneyline

• NC State +188
• Virginia Tech -230

Hokies Have to Heat Up to Help Hopes Against NC State

In their 11-1 start, which included a win over North Carolina and a win over a solid Penn State squad, the Hokies were pretty solid offensively.

Through those first 12 games, Virginia Tech was shooting 48.8% from the field and 35.9% from three. But in their three-game losing streak, the Hokies have shot just 39.1% (75 of 192) from the field and 30.8% (20 of 65) from three.

NC State doesn’t rank near the top of the ACC in either of those categories defensively, coming in ninth in opponents’ field-goal percentage (42.9%) and fifth in opponents’ three-point percentage (31.5%).

But in Wednesday’s win over Duke, the Wolfpack held the Blue Devils to 39.6% (19 of 48) from the field and 33.3% (5 of 15) from three.

But the Hokies have some solid shooters, and they aren’t going to stay cold indefinitely.

Justyn Mutts (47.6%), Wright State transfer Grant Basile (40.6%), and Hunter Cattoor (40.3%) all shoot better than 40%, and leading scorer Sean Pedulla (17.1 PPG) is shooting 40.3% at home and was 4 of 9 from three against Clemson.

Improved shooting is a must given that the Wolfpack have their own set of shooters.

In the win over Duke, Terquavion Smith, NC State’s leading scorer, was 4 of 8 from three and scored a game-high 24 points, while Jarkel Joiner made 5 of 10 from outside and had 21 points, six rebounds, and nine assists.

With Smith and Joiner having big games and Duke doing little offensively, the Wolfpack could afford an off night from their best shooter, Casey Morsell.

Morsell missed all four of his three-point attempts against the Blue Devils, but he is shooting a career-best 45.7% from three this season and will warrant plenty of attention tonight.

NC State vs Virginia Tech Prediction and Picks

NC State vs Virginia Tech Prediction: Virginia Tech to win

NC State vs Virginia Tech Picks: NC State/Virginia Tech over 143.5 (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook & BetMGM) & Virginia Tech team total over 74.5 (Best Value: BetOnline)

The Wolfpack showed what kind of team that they can be against Duke, but not getting those efforts on a consistent basis is why the Wolfpack have had just one top-five finish in the ACC in Kevin Keatts’ tenure as head coach.

Are they going to translate what they did at home on Wednesday into some success on the road? I don’t think they will.

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