Media by Associated Press – North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Breon Pass (10), during NCAA men’s basketball ACC tournament game against North Carolina State Wolfpack Clemson Tigers, Tuesday March 8, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
NCAA basketball teams are running out of time to build their resumes for the NCAA Tournament. When it comes to trying to get in a good position for a strong March Madness seed, picking up big conference victories on the road can go a long way toward impressing the committee. Here’s a look are some games worth betting on Tuesday night.
NC State Wolfpack (+1) at Syracuse Orange
The Wolfpack have won eight of the past ten games. During that stretch, however, NC State is just 5-5 against the spread. On the season, the Wolfpack are just 12-12-2 against the spread.
NC State has been successful thanks to pushing the tempo against opponents. The Wolfpack rank 31st nationally by scoring 78.9 points per game. N.C. State shoots 35.7 percent from the 3-point line. Syracuse, meanwhile, has had a difficult time getting consistent play.
The Orange shot 47 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from the 3-point line. Syracuse is 5-1-1 against the spread in its last seven games and won its past two games outright as a favorite on the road. This is an important game for both teams, but the Wolfpack will do enough to squeak by the Orange.
Kansas State Wildcats (-1) at Oklahoma Sooners
Kansas State has been one of the nation’s biggest turnarounds this season. The Wildcats are one win short of 20 for the year but have started to show some cracks over the past few weeks. Kansas State has lost three of its past four games. Over the past ten games, the Wildcats have gone 6-4 against the spread.
The Wildcats have rallied behind a ferocious defense. Kansas State has shot 28.6 percent from the 3-point line, which ranks 12th nationally. The Wildcats also only allow opponents 41.9 percent from the field, which ranks 83rd nationally. Kansas State is 16-9 against the spread this season.
The Sooners have fallen apart down the stretch. Oklahoma has gone 2-7-1 against the spread over the past ten games and is 2-8 straight up. What the Sooners have struggled with is keeping up with their opponents’ fast-paced offensive attack. Oklahoma State averages 67.5 points per game, which ranks 283rd nationally.
LSU Tigers at Georgia Bulldogs (-4)
Leaving Louisiana has been tough on LSU this season. The Tigers have lost 12 consecutive games overall and are 0-6 in true road games this season. LSU’s offense has struggled to generate much of an attack.
The Tigers only score 66.4 points per game on 41.3 percent shooting from the field. Over the past ten games, LSU is 1-8-1 against the spread. Georgia has become respectable under first-year coach Mike White.
The Bulldogs are 11-14 against the spread this season. Georgia has done a good job at limiting opponents to shooting from the perimeter. The Bulldogs rank 23rd nationally by holding teams to shoot 30 percent from the 3-point line. Georgia will buckle down defensively and cover the spread against the Tigers.
You can find more NCAA basketball picks here.