GAMEDAY: NC State set open ACC play vs FSU @ 4 PM | Preview & How to Watch

NC State Wolfpack (5-3) vs. Florida State Seminoles (7-2)
Time: 4PM EST
TV: ESPNU
Line : NCSU -4.5
Location: Raleigh, NC

Preview:
NC State opens ACC play against FSU today at 4pm. The Pack is coming off a 3 game losing streak, dropping games to Purdue, BYU and Texas. All of those games were against quality opponents, but they have to stop that slide today.

FSU has lost to #20 Florida and LSU. Like NC State, they really don’t have a quality win yet.

The Noles are actually a lot like NC State. They aren’t great at shooting the ball and they are struggling on the offensive glass. Both teams have also struggled from the FT line as of late.

FSU will look to Jamir Watkins to lead the way. The senior 6’7 guard is averaging 17ppg and does most of his damage inside the arc. He’s shooting 44% from the field but only 30% from beyond the arc. NC State just faced Tre Johnson, who is a much more dangerous version of Watkins. So as long as they stick to the type of defense they played against Johnson, they should find some success. Johnson is an NBA talent and did score 18 vs the Pack but it was 18 hard-earned points. State’s defense against him was as good as you could expect.

For NC State, you got to see some light at the end of the tunnel against Texas. Sure they lost, but Dontrez Styles and Marcus Hill showed us that maybe we do have some offensive firepower after all. If these two can get going and Mike O’Connell can round back into form, NC State could get back on track with a home win to open conference play.