Wake Forest vs. NC State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

By Pete Fiutak | October 31, 2019 11:17 am

Wake Forest vs. NC State fearless prediction and game preview.

Wake Forest vs. NC State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 2nd
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, NC
Network: ESPN

Wake Forest (6-1) vs. NC State (4-3) Game Preview

Why Wake Forest Will Win

NC State can’t seem to do much of anything consistently right, and it starts with a defense that’s not taking the ball away.

Dead last in the nation in takeaways, the Wolfpack D isn’t making any big plays, is struggling on third downs, and can’t seem to do much against the better passing teams.

Before AJ Dillon and Boston College ran wild, on the State defense, it allowed 300 passing yards or more in the previous three games, and 220 yards or more against every FBS team on the slate. It hasn’t given up too many touchdown passes, but in the two games it allowed three scores, it lost.

Wake Forest was held without a touchdown throw two weeks against FSU, but has thrown for three or more four times.

On the other side, there’s no State ground game to worry about. The O is averaging three yards per carry with no touchdown runs in the last three games. The Wake Forest defense that can be pounded on should be okay, but …

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Why North Carolina State Will Win

Can Jamie Newman go? The Demon Deacon triggerman has a shoulder injury and is questionable at best. Sam Hartman is a more than fine fill-in if needed, but Newman has been fantastic.

The best way to hit the Wake Forest D is on the ground, but State should be able to bomb away no matter who’s under center. The passing game might not be all that accurate or consistent, but freshman Devin Leary threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to BC – he should be able to fire away at will. Wake Forest has allowed big play after big play through the air with 280 yards or more with nine touchdowns in the last three games.

State might have a slew of problems, but it’s not turning the ball over on offense, the pass rush is a killer on the other side, and there are just enough parts in place to give the Demon Deacons problems. This is hardly an air-tight Wake Forest squad, and …

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What’s Going To Happen

Do you care about patterns? NC State has alternated wins with losses over the last six weeks, and now it’s due to win again after the Boston College loss of two weeks ago.

And then there’s the home field thing – some teams just do a better job in their own house, and in this case, it’s part of the reason for the pattern.

NC State is 4-0 at home, 0-3 on the road, and … State has also beaten a whole lot of nothing at home, and now it’s going on the road.

Wake Forest is better, it has a more consistent offense no matter who’s under center, and it’ll pull out its fifth win of the season by fewer than seven points.

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