OUR FINAL TAKE: NC State vs. North Carolina
Several members of the Inside Pack Sports staff predict the winner of the NC State-North Carolina matchup.
James Henderson (IPS Publisher)
NC State 34, North Carolina 24
Another tricky game for the Wolfpack as the road favorite against a struggling team with coaching concerns.
It always goes back to quarterback and defense, and I believe NC State has the better quarterback and defense.
North Carolina will score, but I expect the Wolfpack to close the deal late – defeating the Heels 34-24 to pick up the team’s eighth win of the season.
Steve Williams (IPS Football Recruiting Analyst)
NC State 31, North Carolina 27
I'm picking State 31-27, but in all honesty I can see this game going either way.
The biggest advantage for State is I feel they have the better quarterback, but I definitely wouldn't be deceived by the Heel's record. I think they're a much better team than that indicates and they are only a play here and a play there from being substantially better in the win-loss column.
The Pack better bring it for four quarters because UNC will come into this game with nothing to lose so you have to expect a little of everything.
Bryant Carson (IPS Football Analyst)
North Carolina 27, NC State 23
The logical and rational part of me very firmly believes that NCSU is the better team and program right now, and it’s not particularly close. However, this is a series that in the last 20-ish years has not really made a lot of sense. The road team seems to win more often than not and/or the underdog seems to win more often than not.
In this case, with State being a road favorite, I’m not really sure what to expect. There really isn’t much on the line for either team—if UNC wins, they still can’t go to a bowl while if NCSU wins it may not have a single effect on their bowl selection/ranking.
I’m going with the Heels in this one strictly because I think that makes the least amount of sense and that seems to be the trend in this series.
Rob McLamb (IPS Beat Writer)
NC State 41, North Carolina 17
Neither team has any other incentive lingering except a rivalry win, so no one will overlook the game.
When discerning who will win or who will lose, one looks for the playmakers. Which team has the players that will make plays in crunch time, show up when the game has meaning, and come through at a high percentage?
NC State has Ryan Finley, Kelvin Harmon, Germaine Pratt, and Christopher Dunn. All three phases of the game are covered for the Wolfpack.
North Carolina cannot match that.
The Wolfpack wins comfortably.
Daniel Wilson (IPS Writer)
NC State 48, North Carolina 7
Little more needs to be said about this game. Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack have had the Tar Heels’ number in Kenan, and this North Carolina team has very little to offer in terms of being a credible threat. NC State is running away with this one.
Ethan Barry (IPS Intern)
NC State 34, North Carolina 28
Not much would surprise me in this game. Every game the Pack has won this year has been by double digits, except for BC, and I think this game plays out similarly to that.
I think NC State looks dominant at times, but the Heels stick around and keep it interesting until the end. Ultimately, State’s physical advantage in the trenches and passing game wins out.