NC State takes on Illinois in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge on Tuesday. This will be the Wolfpack’s second true test of the season. In their first, they were upended by a hot shooting, Top 25 ranked Creighton team.

ESPN made their picks for each game of the challenge and they have NC State beating Illinois 67-61. Here is their reasoning…

NC State at Illinois, 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU

Perimeter play is powering the Wolfpack, led by freshman guard Dennis Smith Jr., who is beginning to assert his will over the team. Illinois needs more consistent play from senior guard Malcolm Hill.

NC State 67, Illinois 61

While they list perimeter play as a main reason that the Pack should take this game, they failed to talk about this team’s major deficiency. State has struggled mightily in the paint. They have been outrebounded by every major opponent they have faced, and nearly dropped Saturday’s game to an undersized Loyola team that beat them on the boards 35-30.

While it is true that the Wolfpack backcourt is clicking on all cylinders, it’s their frontcourt that really needs work. Adding Kapita back in the mix is big, but foul trouble and mismatches rendered him useless against Loyola. Although Illinois will be a much more natural matchup (size wise), NC State has yet to prove that they can win with a balanced attack, which is exactly what they will need against the Fighting Illini.

Is ESPN right? Will the Wolfpack guards simply overpower Illinois? Or will their frontcourt struggles rear their head once again? Sound off in our comment section below.