South Carolina State Bulldogs vs Norfolk State Spartans Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 12 2026
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The South Carolina State Bulldogs face the Norfolk State Spartans in the MEAC Tournament Quarterfinal on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the odds were not listed for this matchup. Be sure to also check out our free college basketball picks for additional insights on today’s college basketball action.
Bulldogs Hoping to Continue Tournament Push
The South Carolina State Bulldogs enter this MEAC tournament matchup with a 9-21 overall record and a 7-7 conference record. South Carolina State has shown some recent improvement, recently won over North Carolina Central 80-64, recently won over Delaware State 61-59, recently lost to Maryland Eastern Shore 69-57, recently lost to Morgan State 90-83, and recently lost to Norfolk State 90-71.
South Carolina State averages 66.6 points per game while allowing 78.7 points per contest this season. The Bulldogs shoot 41% from the field and average 30.9 rebounds along with 12.1 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 3.7 blocks and 7.0 steals per contest.
One of the biggest challenges for South Carolina State has been their defense. Allowing nearly 79 points per game has created difficulty for the Bulldogs in staying competitive against stronger offensive teams.
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Spartans Looking to Protect Home Court Advantage
The Norfolk State Spartans come into this MEAC quarterfinal matchup with a 15-16 overall record and an 8-6 mark in conference play. Norfolk State has had mixed results recently, recently lost to Howard 84-76, recently lost to Morgan State 90-84, recently won over Coppin State 75-69, recently won over South Carolina State 90-71, and recently won over Maryland Eastern Shore 70-66.
Norfolk State averages 76.2 points per game while allowing 73.4 points per contest this season. The Spartans shoot 46% from the field and average 34.8 rebounds along with 12.0 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 3.0 blocks and 7.2 steals per contest.
One of the strengths for Norfolk State has been their ability to generate offense more consistently than their opponent in this matchup. Their scoring advantage combined with better shooting efficiency could give them the upper hand in this tournament game.
South Carolina State Bulldogs vs Norfolk State Spartans Pick
South Carolina State Bulldogs vs Norfolk State Spartans Pick
- Pick: Norfolk State Spartans
Norfolk State defeated South Carolina State recently by a wide margin and that previous result suggests the Spartans may again hold the advantage in this matchup. Their stronger offensive production and better shooting percentage provide them with multiple ways to control the pace.
South Carolina State’s defensive struggles throughout the season also create opportunities for Norfolk State to find scoring rhythm. With the Spartans averaging nearly 10 more points per game than the Bulldogs, they appear to have the edge in this quarterfinal matchup.
South Carolina State Bulldogs vs Norfolk State Spartans Total Pick
- Pick: Over
I expect this game to feature more scoring than some MEAC matchups. Norfolk State averages more than 76 points per game while South Carolina State has shown the ability to score when their offense gets into rhythm.
Because both teams have defensive numbers that allow over 73 points per game, I believe the pace could open up enough to push the scoring toward the over.
Final Score Prediction: Norfolk State Spartans 78, South Carolina State Bulldogs 70
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