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NC State Versus Syracuse | Week 12 | Preview and How to Watch

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2 years ago

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NC State Wolfpack vs. Syracuse Orange
Date: Saturday, November 20th
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Carter-Finley
TV: ACCN
Line: State -11.5

 

Syracuse Preview
The Orange have had a wild up and down year. Sitting at 5-5, they easily could be 8-2. In three consecutive weeks, they lost by three to FSU, Wake (OT) and Clemson. Brutal.

If you’d like to sum up this Syracuse offense in two words, it’d be ‘running team’. And not like State “running team” where you think they run and then never really do with much success. Sean Tucker has been on an absolute roll this year. The 5’ 10”, 210 pound “covid freshman”, is pushing 1,400 yards on the ground with 11 touchdowns. He’s also the Cuse’s second leading receiver. Garett Shrader is “fine” at QB, but where he’s productive is running. Completing on 51% of throws and a 2-1 TD-INT ratio, Shrader has ran the ball 140 times for 713 yards and 13 touchdowns. So in short, Syracuse has ran for 26 touchdowns and only thrown for 8 all year.

The Syracuse defense is steady and strong through the center of the line. They’ll get sacks and make things tough running the ball, but the secondary is where they struggle. Syracuse is just inside the top-100 pass defenses, somehow only getting three interceptions on the year. With that, their turnover margin is -5, floating with the UConn’s, Vandy’s and Rice’s of the world (not good). Strong linebacker crew holds things together long enough to give their offense a chance.

 

Keys to a Wolfpack Win

-Just start throwing it – Totally could picture State opening up the playbook, a week after they should have. This DB crew of Syracuse can keep up with BC’s WR, but not State’s. Attack the sidelines and deep throws. Get the running backs involved with quick screens to the outside. While Leary had some shaky moments last week, we’re back at home sweet home.

-Protect Carter-Finley – Speaking of which, can’t emphasize enough the need to win out these last two games at home. Hold steady in the conference standings, finish undefeated in one of the best atmospheres there is and beat a team you should beat and your biggest rival. Carter-Finley needs to be a win each and every time. Make it truly a place no school wants to travel to.

–Can State D produce stops – The tipping point is 22 carries for Sean Tucker. If he goes over that, Syracuse is finding success and getting their ground game going. If it’s less? Somehow State has stepped up again and showed how strong their rush defense can be.

-Dreaded Third Downs – Hello darkness my old friend…State needs to find a way to make plays defensively and get off the field. Syracuse ranks 107th in offensive 3rd down conversions. When you’re rush heavy and have unreliable QB play, these third downs of over five yards need to be State’s bread and butter. Make. The. Throw. This point also goes for State’s offense too, let’s limit the 3 and outs.

Prediction

If this is a close game, it means it was an ugly game. State has the receiving core to do damage and their running game has been fantastic for a better part of the year. Those two aspects alone, if they play to their standards, should be enough to give State the big win. Special teams, penalties and bad tackling can change that in a heartbeat, however. Keep it simple and move the chains.

State 33-24

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Papajohn
Papajohn
2 years ago

Definitely a test of the coach’s ability to get their heads out of the WF loss, and focused on the rest of the season.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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17 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

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2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

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NC State Football

Proposed Bill in the NC House Would Require NC State & UNC To Play One Another, as well as ECU, UNCC and App St.

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24 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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A bill has been proposed by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play one another, as well as East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

According to House Bill 965, which you can read here in full, NC State and UNC would be required to play one another annually in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels would also be forced to play a game annually in all three sports against either ECU, UNC-Charlotte or App St. Every six years, NC State and UNC would be required to have played a home and away game against each of the three school in all three sports.

Here’s the exact wording from the proposed bill:

Competition Required. – A high-enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport: (1) Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high-enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. (2) Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. A high-enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution.

For glossary of terms being referenced above:

For the purposes of this bill, “High-enrollment institutions” = NC State and UNC, while “Eligible constituent institutions” = East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

It’s worth noting that NC State already has games schedule against each of these teams home-and-away in Football between now and 2031.

2025 – East Carolina (H)

2025 – @ App St.

2026 – App St. (H)

2028 – @ East Carolina

2030 – Charlotte (H)

2031 – @ Charlotte

What are your thoughts?

For more details, check out this article at WRAL.

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NC State Football

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. will Take an Official Visit at NC State Next Week

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2 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. (6’1″/195) confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to NC State next week beginning on May 7th.

After receiving an offer from NC State yesterday, it didn’t take him long to set up the visit.

Martin Jr. is familiar with NC State, because he was recruited by Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson before he left West Virginia to come to Raleigh. Even though he never coached him, a relationship was established.

Martin Jr.’s connections to NC State are deeper than that. Former NC State Cornerback Derrek Pitts, who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is his cousin.

This past year, Martin Jr. recorded 45 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups for Akron, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. His PFF Grade was 68.9.

In 2022, he had 53 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. Martin Jr.’s PFF Grade was 60.9.

In 2019, as a Freshman for West Virginia, Martin Jr. earned PFF Freshman All-American honors, recording a grade of 70.6, with 50 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

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NC State Sits in the Top-20 in 247’s Post-Spring 2024 Preseason Poll

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2 days ago

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May 1, 2024

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247’s Brad Crawford released his Post-Spring 2024 Preseason College Football Top-25 recently, and NC State moved up 1 spot to #20.

ACC Teams in the Top-25

11. FSU

14. Miami

16. Clemson

20. NC State

24. Virginia Tech

25. Louisville

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