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

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6 years ago

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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.

 

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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11 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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18 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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