Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CBB Picks, CBB Free Picks, CBB Predictions 12/3/25
- rbowe7447
- 4 hours ago
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NC STATE @ AUBURN (AUB -5.5, 165.5)
A pair of high-profile, first-year coaches will head programs that appeared in the last two Final Fours when North Carolina State visits No. 20 Auburn on Wednesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
The Wolfpack lost in the Final Four two seasons ago, and Auburn fell in the tournament last season.
This season, the Wolfpack (5-2) will seek to rebound from a 1-2 finish at last week's Maui Invitational. The losses, to Seton Hall and Texas, were their first under coach Will Wade, a familiar face for Auburn teams.
Wade headed up the Tigers' Southeastern Conference counterpart LSU from 2017 through 2022, then coached McNeese to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 2024 and 2025. The Cowboys moved to the second round in last year's tournament with a team that included current North Carolina State player Quadir Copeland, who is coming off a 28-point game in a 102-97 loss to Texas on Wednesday.
Copeland (13.6) is among five Wolfpack scorers averaging in double figures. He joins Darrion Williams (18.7), Paul McNeil Jr. (14.3), Ven-Allen Lubin (12.1) and Tre Holloman (11.1).
The five have combined to fuel one of the most productive scoring units in the nation at an average of 93.6 points per game. At a 42.2% clip, the Wolfpack have made 11.3 3-pointers per game.
North Carolina State struggled defensively vs. the Longhorns in its finale at the Maui Invitational, conceding 29-of-52 shooting from the floor -- including 16 of 32 from 3-point distance.
The Wolfpack also sent Texas to the free-throw line for 33 attempts, 28 of which the Longhorns made. North Carolina State has been among the most foul-plagued teams in NCAA basketball this season, giving up an average of 19.1 points per game at the free-throw line.
"We've got to do better defensively, whether that's communicating, flying around, being more aggressive, putting pressure on the ball or giving a team (only) one shot at the rim," Lubin said. "We can learn from this when we head back and continue to develop."
With an early-season schedule that included last week's three-game set in Las Vegas at the Players Era men's tournament, Auburn is the next opponent the Wolfpack will face.
The Tigers (6-2) defeated Oregon and then-No after suffering a crushing defeat to tournament champion Michigan on November 25. St. John's is ranked number 14. Auburn defeated the Red Storm 85-74 on Wednesday, led by Tahaad Pettiford, who scored a career-high 27 points to raise his season average to 15.1 points per game.
In an interview with TNT Sports, Pettiford stated, "Just having teammates and coaches that have my back, even if I'm not hitting shots, they just tell me to keep going."
Pettiford sent the coaching staff to Steven Pearl, who took over for his father, Bruce, in September. After a stint that includes two Final Four trips with Auburn in 2019 and 2025, Bruce Pearl announced his retirement.
In the winter, the Tigers saw significant roster movement, including the loss of wing Chad Baker-Mazara and big man Johni Broome, who averaged double-doubles.
Keyshawn Hall, a transfer from UCF, has been a prominent playmaker, though. Through the first eight games, the Tigers' scoring rate has increased to 88.5 points per game thanks to his 20.9 points per game.
FREE PICK: AUBURN -5.5
This is the first true road game for NC State. New head coach Will Wade has the Wolfpack offense in high gear. Auburn isn't afraid of playing a fast-paced game. The Tigers are coming off a huge upset win over St. John's and they are at home where they are a perfect 4-0 this season. NC State has lost 14 straight true road games and we are starting to see Auburn take even more action pushing the line to 6.5 at many books. The Tigers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games. Even if NC State hangs around, Auburn pulls away for the cover.
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