Best Wake Forest vs. Pittsburgh Betting Picks for Thursday, Mar. 14
Wake Forest's matchup against the Pirates could be the deciding factor for whether they make the NCAA Tournament.
By Cem Yolbulan
The ACC Tournament quarterfinals are here and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons are about to take on Pittsburgh in a game that could potentially decide where their season continues. A win against the Pirates could secure them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, while a loss likely means they continue onto the NIT.
The fifth-seeded Demon Deacons took care of Notre Dame in the second round in a game they led the entire way. Their offense was consistently productive the entire game with four starters in double digits while not allowing the Fighting Irish to hit a field goal for over six minutes at one stretch in the game.
Now, however, they have a much tougher challenge ahead of them.
Wake Forest vs. Pittsburgh Odds, Spread, and Total
Wake Forest vs. Pittsburgh Best Bet and Prediction
Pittsburgh has been one of the hottest teams in the ACC over the last month and a half. Winning nine of their 11 games, the Pirates managed to secure themselves a bye until the quarterfinals for the first time since joining the conference. It also gives them a significant rest advantage over Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons should still have plenty of confidence going into the matchup. Even during the Pirates' hot streak, Wake Forest managed to deal them their worst loss of the season on February 20 with a 91-58 smackdown.
Blake Hinson continues to carry Pittsburgh, having gotten his scoring average all the way up to 18.8 points per game while Carlton Carrington has established himself as one of the best all-around freshmen in the country. Wake Forest will have their hands full against the dynamic duo.
Pittsburgh has been playing better than Wake Forest over the last month but the Demon Deacons have more talent overall and are likely better on both ends of the floor. In a neutral tournament setting, that should ultimately be the swing factor.
My pick: Wake Forest -2.5
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