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NC State vs. Miss State | Week 2 | Preview and How to Watch

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3 years ago

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NC State Wolfpack vs. Miss State Bulldogs
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Starkville, MS
TV: ESPN2
Line: NCSU -1.5

 

After handling business against University of South Florida, the Wolfpack hit the road for some SEC action. Can the running game continue to amaze? Can this defense force turnovers and win field position? Let’s dig it…

Miss State Preview

For a good chunk of last Saturday, this preview was going to be about how bad Miss State looked in their opening game against LA Tech. Nothing was going right and the struggle was real.

MSU then proceeded to have their largest fourth quarter comeback in school history.

Final score, 35-34 Miss State, with 21 unanswered fourth quarter points. It definitely wasn’t pretty, but a win’s, a win. Miss State had six, SIX turnovers while giving up three sacks. Quarterback Will Rogers was consistent (39/47, 370 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT), but he was moving in and out of the pocket with the o-line struggling to contain. A concern for the Wolfpack, is the ball was moved all around this offense. Eight Bulldogs had multiple catches, with five going over 50 receiving yards.

Rushing game was…well…ehh. Taking out Rogers’ massive sack yardage debt, Marks and Johnson averaged close to six yards a rush, but rarely saw the ball. This offense is truly “Air Raid” Mike Leach style.

Miss State’s defense is stout on the run, but will give you chances in the passing game. Look for Leary and State to go deep when given the opportunity.

 

Keys to Winning for the Wolfpack

  • TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Going to go out on a limb and say that Miss State won’t fumble it another five times, but they are careless with the ball. LA Tech isn’t a chump (and we’ll double check that in a future game against them), but this State defense is faster, stronger and more disciplined. While USF QBs were under continual pressure, State failed to gain a single sack. This Miss State team only goes as far as Will Rogers can throw, so get in the backfield and disrupt. Need to win the turnover battle by at least +2 AND get on the stat sheet with some sacks.
  • Run Baby, Run: Again, hard to judge so early and with a poor USF defense as the lone example, but Knight and Person need to keep it going. Leary should be able to pick up yards through the air (and some nice scramble opportunities, himself). How well the Pack can run, is a huge difference in this game. Whether allowing for play action or running out the clock, we need 175+ total yards out of this duo.
  • Weather the Cowbells and Take Control: We were mightily impressed by how well NC State reacted with a loud Carter-Finley behind them. They were aggressive but not out of control. They’ll need that level head early with a night game in Starkville. Don’t let the SEC moniker, cowbell swinging, sea of maroon knock our focus. The Wolfpack are the better squad, just need to settle into their game early (a la USF) and go.

Prediction

Don’t expect Miss State to fall off the face of the Earth for an entire half again…but also don’t think they are consistent enough to be a contender. NC State has speed, strength and experience. It’ll be back and forth, but turnovers and offense clicking will be the key for the Wolfpack. DBs and LBs be ready…

Wolfpack Wins,  34-27

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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2 days 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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2 days 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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3 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 Football

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

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4 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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