NC State vs Virginia NCAA 2013

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MATCHUP 

NC STATE WOLFPACK (+4.5) VS VIRGINIA CAVALIERS

At 7PM EST on ESPN2 the Virginia Cavaliers (14-5) welcome the NC State Wolfpack (16-4) to the John Paul Jones Arena. NC State is looking to improve on their 5-2 conference record this season while Virginia is aiming to win a 4th straight. 

The most important matchup to follow in this game is how Virginia’s defense handles NC State’s offense. Virginia has the 2nd best defense in the country, they are allowing only 51.1 points per game. While NC State has the 6th ranked offense, scoring 79.6 points per game. Creating a 30 points differential between what Virginia usually allows, and NC State usually scores. Whomever wins this battle will ultimately win this game. 

Virginia has yet to play a ranked opponent this season, NC State will be their first. The toughest opponent the Cavaliers have faced prior to this game is North Carolina where they won (61-52). While some people would say North Carolina (78.9 PPG) is very comparable to the Wolfpack offensively; I would say the difference is NC State is a much better shooting team. They are 4th in the country sinking 50.9% of their shots, and can hurt you from beyond the ark too where they are shooting 40% (12th nationally). 

NC State junior guard Lorenzo Brown will be the player to follow in this game. He is first in the ACC averaging 7.15 assists per game, while helping five players on this roster average over 10 points per game. I not only expect the Wolfpack to cover this spread, but I expect them to beat the Cavaliers for only the 2nd time on their home court this season.

TRENDS

NC STATE

VIRGINIA 

• 45-94 straight up versus good offensive teams averaging 77 points per game or more sine 1997
• 8-11 straight up off a win against a conference rival the last 3 seasons