Connect with us

NC State Football

Can NC State beat the College Football odds and win more than 7 games this season?

Published

6 years ago

on

2018 Wolfpack Preview: Assessing the NC State Schedule

Is there a tough road ahead for the Wolfpack in 2018? The ACC is no cakewalk, not with Clemson, Florida State, Miami, and Virginia Tech in the mix. When looking at college odds, they have NC State projected to win just seven or seven-and-a-half games. But the 2018 schedule favors the Wolfpack, and this should be another exciting season.

How Many Games Can The Pack Win?

It might sound overly optimistic, but the Wolfpack could start the first half of the season 6-0. The biggest challenge early on comes in the form of the No. 17 West Virginia Mountaineers. But the Mountaineers are starting their season a little banged up. That could very well get compounded given the fact that they go straight into a tough game against a resurging Tennessee Vols squad in Week 1. 

The Mountaineers are riddled with injuries, especially on defense. And when dealing with a team who already has a lot of question marks surrounding the defensive unit, this isn’t a good thing. WVU is fast and has a powerful offense, but holes in the defense are going to be picked apart by Ryan Finley, Kelvin Harmon, Jakobi Meyers, Reggie Gallaspy and a solid offensive line.

This is one of the toughest games on the schedule, and it is winnable. When looking at WVU fan forums, this is one of two games that is making Mountaineer fans nervous. It’s being said that in Week 3, we’ll see what WVU is made of. Even ESPN’s matchup predictor favors the Wolfpack in this showdown.

The pack lost a good chunk on defense since last year, nine starters to be exact. Chubb will obviously be missed in the middle but having Darian Roseboro back to lead the defensive line and Germaine Pratt holding it down at LB, the front seven is still going to be a force to be reckoned with. Comparing WVUs defense to NC State’s, the edge goes to the Wolfpack by a mile or more. And in what is going to amount to an offensive shootout, the team that gets key stops is the one that will walk away the victors. But toughness just isn’t West Virginia’s forte, and NC State will win this game on the solid defensive play.

There is a very good chance that the Wolfpack enters their Week 7 game against Clemson at 6-0 and possibly ranked. Clemson has arguably the best defense in all of college football and is an offensive powerhouse as well. It is unfortunate, but this could be the first loss of the season. That said, Syracuse did manage to upset the Tigers last year; so the Wolfpack will be barking dogs with the possibility of an upset.

Speaking of Syracuse, they could show up to play. But this is should be another solid win for the Pack if everyone is healthy. The Orange dropped their last five games of the season after their miraculous 27-24 win over No. 4 Clemson. Wake Forest, Louisville, and Boston College combined for 162 points against the Orange in the last three games of the season and their defense has gotten much better over the offseason.

Next in line is No. 19 FSU and Wake Forest. Then Louisville and UNC. All of the games are winnable. The Pack beat the Noles 27 to 21 last time around and shredded the Cardinals 39 to 25. The only loss from these four teams that close out the season came from Wake Forest.

Florida State and Wake Forest will both be tough games. But if all goes well, we could be looking at a 10-win season for NC State. And another 9-wins season seems easily within reach.

 

Related Topics:
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Football

WATCH QB Grayson McCall’s Tape from the 2024 NC State Spring Game

Published

14 hours ago

on

April 24, 2024

By

NC State will have a new Quarterback in 2024 in Coastal Carolina Transfer Grayson McCall. A few weeks back, McCall looked sharp in the 2024 Spring Game, completing 16 of his 20 pass attempts for 205 yards and a touchdown. McCall was accuracy and composure were evident in his first time playing in Carter-Finley Stadium.

Check out McCall’s tape from the Spring Game.

 

Continue Reading

NC State Football

NC State Legend QB Roman Gabriel Passes Away at the Age of 83

Published

4 days ago

on

April 20, 2024

By

NC State legend Quarterback Roman Gabriel has passed away at the age of 83.

Gabriel’s Accolades

  • 2 time ACC Player of the Year (1960 & 1961)
  • 2 time 1st Team All-American (1960 & 1961)
  • 2 time 1st Team All-ACC (1960 & 1961)
  • 1st ACC QB to throw for 1,000 yards in a season
  • Left NC State with 22 school records and 9 ACC records
  • #1 pick in the AFL and #2 pick in the NFL
  • 16-year NFL career with the Rams & Eagles
  • 4 time Pro Bowler
  • NFL MVP in 1969
  • Led the NFL in Passing Yards in 1973
  • Led the NFL in Touchdown Passes in 1969 & 1973
  • Inaugural member of the NC State Hall of Fame
  • Ranks 1st all-time in Rams history in Touchdown Passes & 3rd in Passing Yards
  • First player to have their jersey number retired at NC State, on January 20, 1962.

Praying for the Gabriel family!

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

NC State has Dominated UNC in Athletics in 2023-24

Published

5 days ago

on

April 20, 2024

By

After NC State clinched a series victory over UNC last night in Baseball, I thought it would be a good time to relish in how the Wolfpack has dominated the Tar Heels Athletic Program as a whole in 2023-24.

The Wolfpack Baseball team has won the first two games in the series against the Tar Heels, clinching a series victory over UNC for the first time since 2021. It marks the first time NC State has won a series against the Tar Heels in Raleigh since 2016.

NC State defeated UNC in Volleyball 3-1, winning in Chapel Hill for the first time in 25 years. The Tar Heels had won the last 5 matches against the Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels 39-20 in Football in Carter-Finley Stadium. It marked the 3rd consecutive win over UNC.

NC State lost both regular season games to UNC in Men’s Basketball, but when it mattered most, the Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels in the ACC Championship Game 84-76, winning their first title since 1987.

The Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team lost to their rival in Chapel Hill, but defeated UNC 63-59 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 5 of the last 7 against UNC.

In Gymnastics, NC State defeated UNC 196.725-194.925 in Raleigh. This marked the 3rd straight victory for the Wolfpack over the Tar Heels.

NC State’s Men & Women’s Swimming & Diving teams both beat UNC. The Men won 258-93, and the Women won 196-157.

The Wolfpack Wrestling team defeated UNC 33-6 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 11 straight Duals against the Tar Heels.

The NC State Men’s Tennis team defeated UNC 4-0, winning against their rival in back-to-back years.

The Wolfpack Women’s Tennis team has defeated the Tar Heels 4-3 on two occasions thus far this season, and will face their rival again today.

The Cross Country teams didn’t have individual meets against UNC, but the Women obviously beat them, because they won the ACC Championship. The Men didn’t, finishing 8th in the Conference, with the Tar Heels finishing 1st.

The only other NC State athletic team that didn’t taste victory against UNC this year was the Women’s Soccer team, losing 0-4 in Raleigh.

Of course, each of these NC State athletic teams has much higher goals than just beating their rival, but there’s no denying how sweet it is to beat the Tar Heels.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

WATCH: Hollywood Smothers Leads NC State in Rushing at the Spring Game

Published

7 days ago

on

April 18, 2024

By

Redshirt Freshman Hollywood Smothers seemingly was the 3rd string Running Back in NC State’s 2024 Spring Game a few weeks back, but at the end of the game, he had more rushing yards than any other back.

Smothers rushed the ball 8 times for 75 yards. He possesses explosive speed, as well as excellent vision.

Check out Pack Insider’s Tape of Smothers from the Spring Game.





Continue Reading