NC State vs. LSU Women: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The NC State Wolfpack, the No. 2 seed in Regional 1, face off against No. 3 seed LSU in a massive round of 16 game on Friday night.

Wes Moore’s Wolfpack are back in the round of 16 for the sixth time in the past seven years and reached the last four last season. They are 28-6 overall and have won 17 of their last 19.

Moore’s team is looking for its third appearance in the final eight in the last four years. LSU, meanwhile, is looking for its third straight trip to the regional final.

Coach Kim Mulkey has led the Tigers to the tournament each of her four years at the helm in Baton Rouge, winning the national championship two years ago before losing to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in a regional final last year.

LSU lost three of its last four regular season games, albeit to tournament teams Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas. And they’ve been humming through the first two rounds, starting with a 103-48 shellacking of No. 14 seed San Diego State.

Back in November, LSU defeated NC State 82-65 to win the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo championship in the Bahamas. Tigers guard Mikaylah Williams scored a game-high 24 points, Aneesah Morrow had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Flau'jae Johnson added 16 points for the Tigers. Samiya Rivers led the way for the Wolfpack with 21 points.

See below for our expert predictions on who will win in the teams’ second matchup this season.

NC State vs. LSU betting picks and predictions

LSU -3.0 (-115)

The Wolfpack have been on a great run the past few months, clinching a tie for the ACC regular season title and reaching the conference’s tournament championship game. And NC State has been clicking defensively so far in the tournament, holding opponents to an average of 52 points per game.

But now LSU is on the schedule, and despite the development of freshmen post players Tilda Trygger and Lorena Awou, the Wolfpack just don’t have an answer inside for Morrow, who leads the nation with 29 double-doubles and is the most prolific rebounder in the country, nabbing 13.5 boards a game.

Morrow (18.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg) and Johnson (18.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) are both back after suffering minor injuries during the SEC tournament, and their presence shows. Along with Williams (17.7 ppg), LSU may just be too formidable offensively, averaging 102 points through two tournament games.

In order to stay close, NC State will need shoot efficiently from range as the team did in the second round (15/30), but the Wolfpack only shot 20 percent from long range in the first round win over Vermont.

With that in mind, back the Tigers to cover the spread as favorites.

Over 153.5 Total Points (-110)

NC State would love to keep the score down to have a chance, but that will be hard to do. The Tigers are fourth in the country at 85.5 points a game, and the Wolfpack will need to score at least their average of 77 points per game to keep pace.

The Wolfpack has scored plenty in the tournament so far, including a 75-55 victory over No. 15 seed Vermont in the first round as Zoe Brooks led the way with 19 points. Rivers added 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Aziaha James contributed 15 points and Madison Hayes chipped in with nine points and 12 rebounds.

NC State then set a tournament record with 15 made three-pointers in a second-round blowout of No. 7 seed Michigan State, winning 83-49. James made six treys and had a team-high 26 points, to go with six rebounds. Rivers had 17 points and 11 assists, followed by Hayes, who made five three-pointers and had 17 points and nine rebounds.

LSU has scored at least 100 points in both of its tournament games so far. In the first round blowout win over San Diego State, Johnson scored 22 points, Williams had 13 points, and Morrow added 12 points and 12 rebounds as the Tigers broke their own tournament record for points scored.

Mulkey’s squad kept their foot on the gas with a 101-71 victory over No. 6 seed Florida State in the second round. Williams led the way with 28 points, followed by Morrow with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, Sa’Myah Smith with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, and Johnson with 13 points. 

Look for the two teams to surpass their 147-point combined total from November and total Over 153.5 points tomorrow evening.

Read more betting picks and predictions for College Basketball on site.

NC State vs. LSU odds

NC State	+135 ML
LSU	-160 ML
Spread	LSU -3.0
Total Points	O/U 153.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.