OUR FINAL TAKE: NC State vs. Virginia Tech
Several members of the Inside Pack Sports staff predict the winner of the NC State-Virginia Tech matchup.
James Henderson (IPS Publisher)
State 27, Virginia Tech 13
Both teams coming off a bye, I’m going with the home favorite. State should be able to control this game with its defense and I expect the offense to have more success in a favorable spot.
Steve Williams (IPS Football Recruiting Analyst)
State 28, Virginia Tech 14
The Pack's had a week to rest, to heal up and devise something Jack Chambers can work with. State won't become an offensive juggernaut but they'll be good enough because I expect State's defense to play a great game.
Bryant Carson (IPS Football Analyst)
State 27, Virginia Tech 19
The two things that stand out to me here are State coming off bye week where the QB change could finally be worked on without the urgency of a pending game and a VT team that has had some real struggles this season--particularly on offense.
A struggling offense coming to play State's D with some rest on a Thursday night and what I believe will be an improved (perhaps only modestly) offensive effort from State gets the Pack a comfortable win.
Ethan Barry (IPS Football Analyst)
State 24, Virginia Tech 10
Two similar teams here with bad offenses and good defenses, even though the Pack is better on each side of the ball. That’s where the similarities end though, VT is in year 1 of a rebuild while the Pack has a well oiled machine of a program at this point.
It’s hard to have a ton of faith in the offense, but they’ve moved the ball enough to think they can generate some points and I think they do that. I see this playing out similarly to the Texas Tech game where State is up early and then just sits on it the rest of the game.
BP Cox (IPS Photographer)
State 19, Virginia Tech 16
The bye week comes at the most opportune time for Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack. It not only allows some players to get healthy but also affords some extra time for Tim Beck to work with Jack Chambers (and MJ Morris) to prepare for them to be the quarterback(s) for the remainder of the season.
I think Wolfpack Nation will help the team on a Thursday night matchup with the Hokies. HokieWolf might not approve, but I give a slight edge to the Pack.