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NC State vs. Furman | Week 3 | Preview and How to Watch

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3 years ago

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NC State Wolfpack vs. Furman Paladins
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium
TV: ESPN3
Line: NCSU -27

 

You wanna know how you get back on track (or completely end your season by week 4)? You play Furman. While no pushover, here is a look at the matchup for Saturday night.

 

Furman Preview

The Paladins come into the game 2-0, after wins agains NC A&T (29-18) and Tennessee Tech (26-0). If you’re looking for any kind of comparison, NC A&T hung with fellow D1 subdivision team, Duke, last week.

It’s always tough to analyze FCS teams, because while talented within the FCS, how does it translate into a Power 5 matchup? Here’s our thoughts on Furman…

Furman’s defense will hang with this State offense, unless Beck and company decide they do in fact want to try and score tonight. Through two games, they’ve only given up an average of 230 total yards. They’ve forced more turnovers (5) than touchdowns given up (2). They’re athletic upfront to control the run, and have enough speed to close gaps in the secondary.

Offensively, however, is where State can take advantage. Average running game, decent receivers, but they ultimately rely heavily on the big play abilities. Out of their five touchdowns, three come from plays over 40 yards. In just two short weeks, their kicker has eight attempts, hitting seven of them. They nickel and dime and, more often than not, settle for field goals.

 

Keys to Winning for the Wolfpack

  • Takeover the Field Position Game: If our defense steps up, showcasing their speed and size, there won’t be much time spent on our side of the field. They have to get pressure on Furman’s QB Sisson, and can’t settle for ZERO sacks again. Furthermore, it’s time to get that turnover bone out again and again and again. Force mistakes by making your reads. Let’s allow our depth on defense to shine.
  • Leary Finds His Groove: Damn those cowbells. Get this offense into a balanced attacked that we saw in the opener against USF. Allow Bam and Person to alleviate the pressure, while this WR crew spreads the field. No reason to be throwing up 50-50 balls. Definitely no reason to go through the left side of the line each play. Leary needs to read, react and get it rolling.
  • Don’t Make This a One Half Game: Look, we understand that Furman comes in with an overwhelming desire to beat the big boys. We understand that in many of these games, the home Power 5 team comes out flat, the FCS club sticks around and the second half is when this game is put away. Let’s not do that. The USF game was perfect in that the tone was set early and the pressure was unwavering. DO NOT let the Paladins remotely think that this game is their’s. The last thing DD needs is another press conference talking about how “we just can’t stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”

 

Prediction

First quarter is slow with State trying to do too much, all at once. The next three quarters go as expected with the offense keeping drives alive and the defense feasting on opportunities. Special callout prediction, Thayer Thomas get a NICE return today. Frankly, we can’t and shouldn’t make this a close game. And we sure as hell can’t be looking ahead to Clemson.

Wolfpack Wins, 37-13

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NC State Football

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

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17 hours ago

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April 24, 2024

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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.

 

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NC State Football

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

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4 days ago

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April 20, 2024

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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!

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NC State Baseball

NC State has Dominated UNC in Athletics in 2023-24

Published

5 days ago

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April 20, 2024

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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.

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NC State Football

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

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7 days ago

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April 18, 2024

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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.





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