NC State and UNC will take the field on Friday in Chapel Hill, NC. The Wolfpack, 7-4 straight-up and 3-8 against the spread, lost 25-10 at Louisville last week. The Tar Heels, 9-2 SU and 6-5 ATS, were upset 21-17 by Georgia Tech. The game total is 55.5 points, and UNC is a 6.5-point spread favorite.
NC State has lost twice since beating 21st-ranked Wake Forest, another example of the rollercoaster season Wolfpack fans have endured in 2022. NC State trailed 13-3 at the half and never recovered, scoring just one touchdown against Louisville. The ground game couldn't get going against the Cardinals, gaining just 77 yards on 31 attempts (2.5 yards per carry). The Wolfpack possessed the football for one minute longer than Louisville but gave up a 98-yard kickoff return that allowed the Cardinals to generate momentum. It was a deafening defeat for NC State, which couldn't compete with Louisville, even with Cardinals senior QB Malik Cunningham (119 career TDs) sidelined with a right shoulder injury.
This season has represented a major fall from grace for the Wolfpack, who were ranked as high as tenth in the country. NC State started 4-0 but lost key games to ranked Clemson and Syracuse squads, as well as a home game to a bad Boston College team. Without starting QB Devin Leary, the offense has stalled out, averaging 18.2 points per game since he exited the Florida State game with a torn right pectoral muscle. NC State was 4-1 and averaging 32.4 points per contest with Leary under center. The Wolfpack have tried out three other quarterbacks following Leary's injury, with MJ Morris leading the team to victories over Virginia Tech and a ranked Demon Deacons team. Unfortunately, the frosh missed the Louisville game with a lower-body injury that may keep him out against UNC, too.
Without Morris, the Wolfpack will look to senior Jack Chambers and freshman Ben Finley to handle snaps, with Chambers serving as a change-of-pace mobile option to the pro-style Finley. To beat the rival Tar Heels, North Carolina State must rely on its stout defense, which is top 25 in total yards surrendered and top ten against the run. Its 19 takeaways rank among the most in the nation, too.
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— NC State Football (@PackFootball) November 17, 2022