OUR FINAL TAKE: NC State vs. Western Carolina
Several members of the Inside Pack Sports staff predict the winner of the NC State-UConn matchup.
James Henderson (IPS Publisher)
State 48, WCU 10
I’m expecting to see a lot of fireworks tonight in Carter-Finley Stadium. Should be fun for Wolfpack fans.
Steve Williams (IPS Football Recruiting Analyst)
State 48, WCU 13
I think the Pack gets off to a quick start and just wears Western Carolina down during a game where it'll likely start off in the 90's. This should be a great tuneup for State with a massive game with Tennessee on the horizon.
Bryant Carson (IPS Football Analyst)
State 48, WCU 9
This may be a hope-based prediction more than a realistic one, but my hope is that WCU is so completely overmatched in this one that the Pack can't stop scoring (even if they're not trying to). I would think State will come out and run its full offense for 3-4 series and not just hand the ball off and run the clock, and if they do that then they should give themselves a considerable lead early on and let the ones have a seat at halftime. However, I would still expect the twos and threes to control the game in the 3rd and 4th quarter.
Phillip Danford (IPS Football Analyst)
State 45, WCU 10
Enough talk; it’s finally time to play some football. With new faces and leaders throughout both sides of the ball this is a highly anticipated opener. And I expect NC State to come out looking to dominate and build confidence knowing what lies ahead next weekend. A few things I’m looking to gauge in the first half of this game include tempo, receiver rotation, and run game composition. Do they give us a true look or is there a bit of a shell game? Either way, looking forward to breaking it down.
Alex Gee (IPS Analyst)
State 45, WCU 6
I got the Pack taking this one pretty easily , 45-6.
Talent is going to show up. I’ve had some cool conversations on the boards, podcasts, and just talking to friends and family leading up to kickoff that has me really believing in this season being the one. I landed on 9-3 with last year’s pre-season prediction. You could have sold me on 10. Not on 11. This year I’m all in on 11 and it starts Thursday. There’s just too much proven talent on the roster. Comparing last year’s nine-win team with their schedule to this years… I just think it’s happening. State is better – or a push – at nearly every position on the field. The defense can, and I think will, be at least as good. The offense will be leaps and bounds better.
I think the talent shows up within State’s base O & D Thursday and is just completely overwhelming for WCU. I look for State to probably come out of this one 50/50 run pass solely because they should be able to call whatever they want and have success. The secondary and athleticism of the front six will overwhelm the interior of WCU’s offense. Going to be a fun night in Carter Finley. My only concern is getting the tailgate tent put away after a nice afternoon in Arena East.
Rob McLamb (IPS Writer)
State 55, WCU 17
Western Carolina is a fine football program and is going to get better, but the way the Catamoiunts play offensively means NC State likely beats the spread. Time of possession is not WCU's forte. They will fling the ball around and not take the easy way out if it isn't working. They see this as a chance to compete with a top team, but also a week of prep for the conference games coming up -- which matter the most to all involved.
The Wolfpack will get the ball, via punt and turnover, and have enough chances to light up the scoreboard. NCSU comes across as a team that will take every game seriously, and this is a test of that theory. With difficult games coming hot and heavy, the Pack routs Western inside an excited Carter-Finley Stadium.
Daniel Wilson (IPS Writer)
State 55, WCU 3
As strong as the Catamounts' offense was last season, which Dave Doeren has been keen on mentioning throughout the week, it didn’t face Tony Gibson’s defense, and if that were all the Wolfpack had to offer, even that would be enough. But Robert Anae’s offense with Grayson McCall at the helm will also show up to play. Let’s not kid ourselves. This is going to be a mauling of seismic proportions… a Cullowhee culling, if you will.
PJ Williams (IPS Recruiting Analyst)
State 48, WCU 13
Unless disaster strikes, I don't see a path for WCU to keep this game close. I expect NC State's offense to find the endzone in a hurry, forcing the Catamounts to chase points and become one-dimensional. From there, we'll see the Pack generate turnovers and put the game out of reach early. State fans get an extended look at CJ Bailey in the second half, and then all attention turns to Tennessee.
Sam Locklear (IPS Intern)
State 52, WCU 13
NC State's offense is at 100% when it comes to being ready week 1. Everyone appears to be on the same page after fall camp including returners from last year, transfers, and freshmen. This offense now needs to show that they can put up points without slowing down. Secondly, Western Carolina had one of the best offenses in the FCS last year. However, Western Carolina lost their leading rusher, leading receiver, and offensive coordinator from last season to Pitt. With that in mind, their offense will still be good, but they'll have some growing pains with new weapons and a new offense.
Jake McSwain (IPS Writer)
State 52, WCU 7
The only question I have regarding this game is when does State decide to take their foot off the gas. You are likely going to see very vanilla defense and offense, but that will be more than enough to win comfortably.
Expect a beat down, and enjoy getting familiar with the new faces in the program.
Jeff Reeves (IPS Photographer)
State 42, WCU 10
NC State gets a chance to test out its new offensive arsenal but only reveals a little ahead of the game against Tennessee. The defense shuts down the Catamounts but WCU is able to move the ball late in the game for a couple scores.
Runa Cooper (IPS Sponsor)
State 52, WCU 10
This may really be the year. The O is stacked with proven playmakers at QB, RB, TE, and slot. The rest of the O is littered with upside lottery tickets with the big two being Rogers and Smothers. Feel good about the DL and secondary, but the LB’s scare me to death.
Really only one concern about covering this spread. Will the coaches cut the offense loose and put up the points that would come? Frankly, even if they try to ground and pound with the backups in the second half I think Smothers, Raphael, & Scott are putting up TD's. Also, I would hope if CJ Bailey gets extended playing time they let him air it out. I don't see our secondary giving up more than 150 yards passing, and if WCU can run the ball on us I'll be very concerned moving forward into next week.
BP Cox (IPS Photographer)
State 55, WCU 10
If we are looking at hype alone, this is the year NC State fans have been waiting for. The schedule lines up, and the roster is (on paper) perhaps the best team Dave Doeren and his staff brought to Raleigh. As we have seen before, all the talent doesn’t matter unless you win the games.
Western Carolina should be an easy tune-up for Tennessee, but as mentioned, you have to win the game. We should only see a small sliver of the playbook, and McCall should show the precision we’ve seen throughout camp and his career.
I look for the 2’s to start the 4th quarter in this one. Pack by a plethora.