California vs NC State prediction, pick, odds for college basketball

It’s time to continue our college basketball odds series with California-NC State predictions and picks. Learn how to watch California-NC State.

This game will have a hard time making it to the big headlines on a stacked college basketball Saturday, and it has to come as a surprise to some degree. North Carolina State advanced to the Final Four last season. We all know it happened in the most improbable way, when the Wolfpack won five games in the ACC Tournament and then stayed hot for four wins in the NCAA Tournament. We won’t see a race like that with any kind of regularity. It could be argued that this nine-game streak was more improbable than the 1983 NC State team’s run to the national championship, especially considering that this 2024 team didn’t have the ability to endlessly foul and force one-on-one situations for opponents. (Teams today only get three one-and-ones.) The 1983 NC State team also played in the no-shot-time era. More than 40 years ago in college basketball, it was easier to be competitive against underachieving teams. We all knew that running at NC State in 2024 was a very rare thing. Consequently, we didn’t expect NC State to have a great team this season.

But this? We probably expected better than what we saw from coach Kevin Keatts. First of all, a trip to the Final Four at a proud ACC basketball school in the heart of the Carolinas seemed to ensure that NC State would get some quality pieces on the transfer portal. Those pieces won’t create a superpower or even a top-four ACC team, but at least the Wolfpack will remain competitive and relevant. At least that, right? No. NC State is 2-4 in the ACC and 9-8 overall. The Wolfpack basically have no chance in the NCAA tournament (as an at-large team; obviously they could heat up again in mid-March, but who expects that?). They just blew a double-digit lead on a not-so-good Virginia Tech team. That’s part of the problem with NC State. The Wolfpack didn’t even play the best of the best in the ACC. Things are likely to get worse, not better.

It’s no better for Cal. The Golden Bears struggled in their first year under coach Mark Madsen. They should have been better in year 2, but that didn’t happen. Injuries played a role, but the Bears justifiably stumbled. In Missouri, they took advantage of 18 points. They lost at home to Cornell. They haven’t been good for a few weeks now. They are trying to turn their season around as much as NC State. These are two ACC teams looking for something, anything, to change the trajectory of their journey.

Here’s the state of California-NC College basketball oddscourtesy of FanDuel

College Basketball Odds: California State-NC Odds

California: +4.5 (-102)

Moneiline: +172

NC State: -4.5 (-120)

Moneilines: -210

Over: 144.5 (-110)

Under: 144.5 (-110)

How to watch California vs. NC State

Time: 6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT

TV: ACC Network

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Why California will cover the spread/win

NC State shouldn’t be favored by 4.5 points over any team right now, given the way the Wolfpack is playing. NC State has shown that no lead is safe and no spread point feels safe. Cal isn’t a great team, but NC State just doesn’t deserve any confidence.

Why NC State will cover the spread/win

Cal isn’t good enough and strong enough to go to Raleigh and win an ACC road game on the East Coast.

Final prediction and state selection California-NC

Our goal is Cal, but no team can be trusted. Pass.

California-NC final forecast and state pick: California +4.5