The NC State football team faces a short week with a Thursday night primetime showdown with fellow ACC competitor Louisville at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Wolfpack (4-1, 2-0 ACC) is nationally ranked for the first time in almost seven years at No. 23 after a 33-25 home victory over Syracuse on Saturday. With the first 2-0 start in conference play in 10 years, the Pack will look to build upon the improved defensive line play and running attack that has led to a four-game win streak.
NC State has managed to resurrect its rushing game with junior running back Nyheim Hines leading the way after a 115-yard outburst against Syracuse, good for 423 yards and 5.0 yards per carry on the season. With talents such as redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley and senior all-purpose back Jaylen Samuels to complement the running game, the offense has the potential to produce in any game. A more balanced offense has been consistent in producing touchdown drives, limiting turnovers and giving the defense time to rest.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive end Bradley Chubb won the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for the second-straight week after recording four sacks in that time frame. Along with Chubb, fellow senior defensive lineman Justin Jones and redshirt senior linebacker Jerod Fernandez have been crucial to pressuring the opposing quarterback, allowing only 85.6 rushing yards a game at 2.9 yards a carry for opponents.
The Pack continues to struggle with a pass defense that allowed 385 passing yards and two receivers to catch over 120 yards to Syracuse. Kicking inconsistencies continue to plague the Wolfpack with six missed field goals and extra points on the year for senior kicker Carson Wise.
The No. 17 Cardinals (4-1, 1-1 ACC) come to town with a high-power offense led by reigning Heisman Trophy-winning junior quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson is averaging 327.2 passing yards a game and leads his team with 437 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Jackson’s go-to receiver, junior Jaylen Smith, missed last week’s 55-10 stomping of Kent State with an injured wrist and will likely sit out this matchup as well. The key for the Cardinals in this game could rest on their offensive line protecting Jackson and opening holes for a run game against a stout Wolfpack defensive line.
With their leading receiver most likely out, look for Jackson to rely heavily on freshman receiver Dez Fitzpatrick who leads the team with an impressive six touchdowns in five games this year. With an offense that averages nearly six yards per rush and almost 14 yards per catch, the Cardinals will challenge the vaunted NC State defensive line but aim to exploit an inexperienced secondary.
After two feel-good wins where the Cardinals outscored their opponents 97-13, the Louisville defense will try to forget its ugly 47-21 home loss to Clemson where they allowed 613 yards. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jon Greenard paves the way for the defense with five sacks on the season. Like State, the secondary struggles to stop the pass while the defensive line can defend against the run.
The main points of emphasis for the Wolfpack should be starting fast on offense and scoring on its first drive for the sixth-straight game. The offense cannot have lull periods, like the third quarter against Syracuse, with a high-scoring team like Louisville. On the other side of the ball, it will be up to the defensive line to shut down the run and disrupt Jackson as much as possible.
For the Cardinals, the offensive line will set the tone for how much destruction Jackson and company can have. The offense has the big-play potential that can wear down a defense and allow them to win in a shootout situation. Defensively, creating turnovers, reducing the amount of penalties and continuing a 35.29 third down conversion rate could help Louisville.
Both teams have offenses that feature talented and high scoring playmakers; however, the game will most likely be decided by which defense, particularly the secondary, picks up the most slack.
