NC State Football starts up this Saturday, and while it may not have the talent last year’s squad did, there is a lot of potential for success on both sides of the ball.
Week One: vs. James Madison- 9/1
NC State starts its season off at home against a very talented FCS opponent in James Madison. The Dukes have gone to back-to-back FCS title games, so this is not a game the Pack should overlook. Even with a solid running game, JMU won’t have enough offense, especially with a question mark at quarterback, to compete with the points NC State will put up. Could be close in the first half, but quarterback Ryan Finley and the Pack pull away after halftime.
Week Two: vs. Georgia State- 9/8
This is another game the Pack should handle easily. After getting out all the first game jitters, NC State should roll through this game from the start. Georgia State’s second opponent last year was Penn State, a game the Panthers lost 56-0. It won’t be quite a landslide like that, but the offense should put up some big numbers.
Week Three: vs. No. 17 West Virginia- 9/15
Here is the first true challenge that NC State will face in the 2018-19 season. Ranked No. 17 nationally, the Mountaineers will likely be favored to win the game. It will feature one of the best quarterback and offensive duels of the season when Finley faces off against Will Grier. Both are NFL prospects that will be ready to prove themselves against top talent. Expect this game to involve a lot of passing yards and a lot of points. With Carter-Finley Stadium guaranteed to be loud and crowded, the game is too close to call.
Week Four: at Marshall- 9/22
NC State will finally see its first road game of the season after three games at home. NC State defeated Marshall in the 2017-18 season at home, 37-20, in week two. Finley threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s win, but was paced by Marshall’s quarterback Chase Litton, who threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns. With Litton now in the NFL, Marshall should have a more difficult time getting down the field. The Pack takes this one by double digits.
Week Five: vs. Virginia- 9/29
The Pack starts ACC play in week five with a home game against Virginia. Virginia was picked to finish last in the coastal division by members of the media and could easily be last in the conference. Also, head coach Bronco Mendenhall said he only had 27 ACC-caliber players on his roster. This should be an NC State win, if not a blowout.
Week Six: vs. Boston College- 10/6
Boston College could be a tricky game. This is a team that might sneak up on some opponents, especially with NFL-ready running back A.J. Dillon, who ran for over 1500 yards in the 2017-18 season. This will be a close game, and if the Pack can force BC to throw the ball more than the Eagles want to, it will have success heading into the bye week.
Week Eight: at No. 2 Clemson- 10-20
Clemson is a team that will likely win the ACC and make it to the College Football Playoff again. The Tigers’ defense is elite, quarterback Kelly Bryant is solid enough to carry them through every game that they play and it is no different against the Pack. Unless Finley is lights out and every Pack defensive player plays like Bradley Chubb, NC State will end up on the losing side of this one, even after having a week to rest up. The Wolfpack will need an off day from Clemson to keep it close.
Week Nine: at Syracuse- 10/27
If the Pack plays like it should, it will beat Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. The challenge might come with bouncing back from the Clemson game the week before, if the Pack were to lose. Orange quarterback Eric Dungey is a great player, however there is a question mark as to how many good weapons he will have around him.
Week 10: vs. Florida State- 11/3
Florida State will be in the top three best teams NC State play in the regular season. With a new coach, it will be interesting to see how the Seminoles perform this year. With Deondre Francois back at quarterback, the offense will be solid, but not enough to take down the Pack at home.
Week 11: vs. Wake Forest- 11/8
The last home game of the season comes against the Deacons. With questions at quarterback, it seems unlikely for them to keep up with NC State and its top-tier offense.
Week 12: at Louisville- 11/17
Louisville will enter its first year without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who accounted for a large portion of the Cardinals’ offense the last two years. They weren’t very good last year and without Jackson there isn’t enough firepower to compete.
Week 13: at UNC Chapel-Hill- 11/24
To close the regular season, NC State travels to Chapel Hill for the all-important rivalry game. The Tar Heels are in better shape than last year, but will not find much on the offensive side with holes in a number of positions. Pack takes its third straight win against Carolina.
The Pack has three big matchups against Clemson, West Virginia and Florida State. There is a very reasonable chance to win them, except for the game against the Tigers. Expectation should be around eight or nine wins, around the mark of last season, but the most exciting part will be watching Finley and the offense go to work, and it all starts Saturday against James Madison.
