NC State vs Clemson

Clemson’s nine-game winning streak, 12-game home heater, and top-20 level defense at Littlejohn set up the Tigers as a justified moneyline side against an NC State group that just coughed up a home loss to Georgia Tech and now has to deal with a raucous road environment. With the Wolfpack still just 12-6 overall and less battle-tested in tight late-game situations than a 16-3 Clemson squad that’s controlled the ACC so far, the gap in form and consistency is wider than the modest NC State +130 / Clemson -200 price suggests. Depth injuries skew slightly against NC State, with Jordan Snell and Scottie Ebube both listed as questionable, while Clemson’s biggest absence is shooter Zac Foster, whose loss has been absorbed by a deep rotation built around RJ Godfrey, Carter Welling and Dillon Hunter, plus NC State’s own leaders Darrion Williams, Paul McNeil Jr. and Quadir Copeland having to carry heavy usage in a hostile gym. Layer in Clemson’s 8-2 run in the last 10 head-to-head meetings and the Tigers’ balance on both ends, and laying the juice with Clemson -200 grades out as an A- pick for reliability even if the raw price isn’t a huge bargain. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/01/2026 09:43.([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/expert-picks/NCAAB_20260120_NCST%40CLEM/?utm_source=openai))

Darrion Williams and NC State bring a blistering 85+ points-per-game offense into Clemson, but recent trends suggest the Tigers’ methodical, physical style and 60s-possession pace can drag this total under 140.5 despite the Wolfpack’s gaudy scoring numbers. Clemson is allowing mid-60s per night with strong opponent field-goal suppression, and has leaned under more often than not this season, especially at home, while NC State’s scoring has been far less explosive away from Raleigh and just sputtered badly in the Georgia Tech loss. Historical series data also points to lower scoring in this matchup, with the last 10 meetings slightly favoring the under and Clemson’s defense typically dictating terms in Littlejohn even when NC State’s guards, led this year by Williams, McNeil and Copeland, are cooking. Given the clash between NC State’s tempo and Clemson’s half-court grinding, plus both teams having size and depth inside to contest at the rim, the under 140.5 at -120 earns a solid but not elite B grade: the number is tight, but the defensive and pace angles lean to a game that lands in the high 130s. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/01/2026 09:43.([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/north-carolina-state-wolfpack-vs-clemson-tigers-jan-20-2026-game-boxscore-261866?utm_source=openai))

NC State’s 9-9 ATS mark, fresh shooting wobble in the Georgia Tech loss, and long-term 1-6 ATS slide against Clemson make this a tough spot to back the Wolfpack catching only +3.5, especially with the Tigers riding a 9-game overall and 12-game home win streak. Clemson has been a strong spread team this year, particularly in ACC play, routinely covering modest numbers behind the two-way impact of RJ Godfrey, Carter Welling and Dillon Hunter, while NC State leans heavily on Darrion Williams, Ven-Allen Lubin and Quadir Copeland to create offense and has struggled to close out quality opponents on the road. With depth pieces Jordan Snell and Scottie Ebube questionable for the Pack and Clemson’s main long-term injury (Zac Foster) already baked into recent results, the Tigers’ continuity and home-court edge line up with their recent 12-7-ish ATS profile to suggest a 2–3 possession win is more likely than not. Laying Clemson -3.5 at -120 gets a B+ grade: you’re paying a bit of extra vig, but the combination of form, matchup history, and current roster health still tilts this number toward the home favorite. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/01/2026 09:43.([fanduel.com](https://www.fanduel.com/research/clemson-vs-nc-state-college-basketball-predictions-odds-picks-best-bets-for-1-20-2026?utm_source=openai))