NC State vs Maryland
Mar 10, 2011 at 7 PM EST
Opening line: Maryland -4.5
Current Line: Maryland -6
Opening Total: 145.5
Current Total: 146.5
Opening Moneyline: Mary -250 / NC +230
Current Moneyline: Mary -260 / NC +220
This 1st round matchup of the ACC tournament features the 10th seeded NC State Wolfpack against the 7th seeded Maryland Terrapins. NC State’s ACC record is 5-11 and Maryland is 7-9 in ACC play.
Maryland comes in as losers of their past three games (to #19 ranked UNC, Miami (FL), and Virginia). They have been more or less alternating short win streaks with short losing streaks all season and have yet to have a win or loss streak greater than 3 games. That consistency should bode well against NC State.
NC State has lost 4 of their last 5, with losses to Maryland, UNC, Virginia, and FSU; the lone victory was against Georgia Tech. NC State, with a 15-15 overall record has a +0.5 point differential, scoring 70.8 a game and giving up 70.3 a game. Maryland scores 77.1 a game and gives up only 67.0 Marylands 77.1 points per game ranks them 21st in the nation in points per game. They also rank 16th in rebounding, 9th in overall assists, and 26th in field goal percentage (47.2%).
Some betting trends:
Maryland is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games and 2-5 SU In their last 7 games. The total has gone OVER in 6 of Maryland’s last 7 games and they are 5-0 SU in their last 5 against NC State. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Maryland’s last 6 games against NC State.
NC State is led by 6’8″ senior forward Tracy Smith. Smith scores 14.1 points per game, grabs 5.6 boards per game and shoots 49.8% from the floor. He has scored in double figures in all but 3 games he has appeared in (total of 17 games). Over his last three games he is averaging 12 a game and he had 19 on 7 of 15 shooting in the 7 point loss to Maryland last week. 6’8 freshman C.J. Leslie has been making a big difference too. The freshman has averaged 11.7 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with 7.5 a game. He does this despite only averaging 25.1 minutes a game. He’s managed 5 double doubles and NC State has won 3 of those 5 games. He’s also leading the team in points per game over the last three games with 18.3 a game.
Maryland is led by 6’10 Sophmore forward Jordan Williams. Williams averages a double double with 16.9 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in all but 6 Maryland games, of which Maryland has lost 4. His high rebound game is 19 in a 11 point loss to UNC on the 27th of February. His high point game is 27 points, which he recorded against Wake Forest, going 10 of 19 from the floor while the Terrapins won by 21. Of Marylands 7 rotation players, 6 of the 7 average 8 points or more per game, with Pe’Shon Howard being the exception since he only plays 18 minutes a game. Stoglin, Tucker, Bowie, Gregory, and Mosley all form a strong rotation that lacks depth.
NC State has 9 players that all average 15 minutes or more per game, so perhaps they can use their depth to wear down Maryland, but they still won’t have an answer for Jordan Williams, who should be the difference maker for Maryland.
