NC State vs. #18 Clemson Picks and Predictions: ACC Basketball
Written by: Nate Hornung
Last Update: Tue Jan 20, 2026, 2:03 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Will Wade and the NC State Wolfpack had high hopes going into this season. Early on, they jumped into the top 25, but after falling to unranked Seton Hall in the opening round of the Maui Invitational, things have gone downhill. They were just beaten at home by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and now face a tough ranked opponent on the road, taking on Brad Brownell and the No. 18 Clemson Tigers. They are 6-0 in ACC play, 16-3 on the season and have won nine straight games. Does that continue tonight? Get our CBB expert picks below to find out.
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Best Bet: Clemson ML/Under 142 (+201) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
NC State Wolfpack vs. #18 Clemson Tigers NCAA Basketball Insights
Darrion Williams leads NC State into Clemson to take on the Tigers on Super Tuesday
While I bet Clemson is looking back wishing they didn't lose to the Georgetown Hoyas on the road, their losses to Alabama in Tuscaloosa and BYU on a neutral site are more than forgivable. The Tigers have lost all three games by a combined 14 points, competing in every single contest. They are one of the best defensive teams in the country, they play their style of ball, and aren't afraid of anybody. Especially not this NC State team.
Will Wade brought in a great class of transfers, but they have not panned out. Darrion Williams, Ven-Allen Lubin and Tre Holloman gave this program plenty of hope, but they aren't playing like it yet. Their three most recently losses all came on their home floor, and this will be the toughest opponent they've seen on the road. Do they have it in them to upset this Clemson team? I highly doubt it.
Matchup Information – NC State vs. Clemson – January 20
- Venue & Location: Littlejohn Coliseum (Clemson, SC)
- Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ACC Network
NC State vs. Clemson Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of January 20, 2025 at 11:12 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- NC State +3.5 (-109)
- Clemson -3.5 (-111)
Moneyline
- NC State +141
- Clemson -172
Total
- Over 142 (-109)
- Under 142 (-111)
Going into the season, I wanted to see it out of NC State before I believed in their big name transfers. And so far, they haven't earned my respect. But Clemson has.
NC State vs. #18 Clemson NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Dillon Hunter does it all for Clemson, leading the team in minutes and assists while adding 8.8 and 4.0 rebounds per game
NC State vs. Clemson Prediction: Clemson Wins and Covers, Under 142
Best Bet: Clemson ML/Under 142 (+201) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Clemson ranks No. 9 in the nation in points allowed, giving up 64.5 overall and just 57.3 in their own gym, jumping up to third in the nation behind Houston and West Virginia. This team bleeds defense. They are top six in overall defensive efficiency, top 12 in opponent eFG% and rank top 40 in offensive rebounds allowed. The Tigers keep teams off the free throw line, rank north of 300 in pace so they limit possessions, but offensively they take great care of the basketball, which results in utilizing the entire shot clock.
They hold their foes to under 30% shooting from downtown, with that number dropping to less than 24% in their own gym. This team is insanely good at defending the perimeter. While NC State is going to try and run, Clemson is better and at home, so they will control the pace of this game. Not to mention they are a perfect 10-0 in their own gym this year.
While NC State's offense is pretty efficient, they do not crash the offensive glass, are north of 300 in opponent eFG% away from home, and are bottom 20 in FT Rate defense. That translates to plenty of opportunities for Clemson to score, but I have faith in their tempo and defense to make sure this doesn't get out of hand. The Tigers will only need to score 65 points to win this game.
We've cashed this exact parlay (Clemson ML and the under) in two games this year, and I plan on making it a third tonight.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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