OUR FINAL TAKE: NC State vs. Pittsburgh
Several members of the Inside Pack Sports staff predict the winner of the NC State-Pittsburgh matchup.
James Henderson (IPS Publisher)
Pitt 27, NC State 20
This game will come down to the trenches. Who is going to be the more physical team?
NC State certainly can win this game if the ground game gets going and the Pack’s defense can limit explosive plays, but Pitt is senior-laden and loaded with experience, and I think they make more plays to pull it out.
Steve Williams (IPS Football Recruiting Analyst)
Pitt 28, NC State 13
If I'm evaluating this game based on NC State's body of work over the last eight games, I go in thinking this is a game where NC State struggles. I hope I'm wrong, but I can't remember the last time NC State went on the road against a P-5 opponent, got effective play out of a quarterback, and won a game.
Can State win? Absolutely. This is a very winnable game for the Pack. However, for State to pull it off we'll need to see an effort from the Pack that we haven't seen in over a year.
Bryant Carson (IPS Football Analyst)
Pitt 41, NC State 34
Pitt's DL slows down the Pack's run game early, State falls behind, and in an effort to fight back State forces the pass, Pitt creates turnovers, and thus makes State pay.
James Johnson (IPS Football Analyst)
Pitt 27, NC State 17
Pitt may be the most fundamentally sound team in the conference. Defensively, Pitt will challenge State on the outside with man coverage and get their safeties involved in defending the running game early and often.
Will State be able to win on the outside and punish those quarters safeties for sticking their noses in against the run? On the other side, the Wolfpack defense has to improve greatly or it is going to be a long season.
This is a game where State will show improvement, but I think Pitt is too well coached and doesn't make enough mistakes for the Wolfpack to come away with a W.
Phillip Danford (IPS Football Analyst)
Pitt 28, NC State 13
I think one of the more important stats to come out of this game, if NC State is to win, will be starting field position. It will be imperative for the defense, or special teams, to create short fields and the offense capitalize on these opportunities. This Pitt defense is simply too stout to continually sustain long drives.
For the defense this means they need to generate impactful plays. They may give up yards at times, but can they be disruptive and force turnovers? If so, NC State will have a chance.
Daniel Wilson (IPS Writer)
NC State 24, Pitt 21
The Wolfpack has to take it to the next level at some point to have a successful season, and it needs to be during this road stretch.
State should be a better defense with Tanner Ingle and Payton Wilson returning from injury, and the Pack has a formidable running attack to challenge the Panthers’ defensive front. NC State will win, but it will just squeak by.
Andrew Schnittker (IPS Writer)
Pitt 28, NC State 17
I think NC State plays much better and cleans up a lot of what ailed it against Virginia Tech, but it falters on the road against a very good team. Kenny Pickett makes some plays against NC State's secondary, and Devin Leary is able to impress but not move the ball enough against a strong defense.
Jake McSwain (IPS Writer)
Pitt 31, NC State 21
I do expect to see some strides taken this week, but I don’t think State is going to have enough juice to pull of the upset. Hopefully Devin Leary takes some steps forward and can keep it interesting. I think that’s about what you hope for.
BP Cox (IPS Photographer)
Pitt 28, NC State 20
The game versus Pittsburgh will be one to reveal the character for the Wolfpack. On top of everything going on with the unique 2020 season & Covid-related matters, it still comes down to execution on the field. That execution didn't happen the way Head Coach Dave Doeren & Wolfpack Nation was expecting last week versus Virginia Tech.
*IF* Leary is the starter, one would expect more chances to be taken downfield. That will be a challenge as Pitt has some burners on the roster, especially in the secondary. Start off small and take what the defense will give you -- underneath passes and screens mixed in with strong running will be the key for Leary setting a pace he is comfortable with.
Defensively, State needs a healthy Payton Wilson and Tanner Ingle to hopefully provide some juice. No matter what scheme is being used, it boils down to bending and not breaking.