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)
State 31, Carolina 21
The rivalry game is here, and NC State has a chance to cap a strong season with a win over the Heels. Ultimately, NC State should be the more physical team in this matchup, and Devin Leary’s development as a passer will prove to be the difference.
The favorite has won the game in this series each of the last four years. I expect that trend to continue.
Steve Williams (IPS Football Recruiting Analyst)
State 42, Carolina 38
Man, this is a tough one. State has so much on the line, and UNC would love nothing more than to play spoiler. I don’t particularly care for the Pack getting caught up in a shootout game, but hopefully this will be the week where they prevail.
Bryant Carson (IPS Football Analyst)
State 31, Carolina 23
This is the first time since 2017 that I'm picking State to win this one. In fact, back in August, I picked it as a loss.
I do think State is the better team and has proven as much throughout the entirety of this 2021 season. On top of that, State is the home team with a night crowd with just so much more on the line than the Heels. My biggest concern would be that State ends up playing tight or reserved with so much more on the line.
However, this isn't a game that State has won since the 2018 season, so I hope that's the entire focus--just to go out there and beat UNC and let the rest of the potential circumstances take care of themselves.
Phillip Danford (IPS Football Analyst)
State 31, Carolina 18
In my opinion, this is a game you don’t want to be ball-watching as a fan. Focus on the line of scrimmage. That will tell the story of this contest like it has for so many years. NC State has the better fronts, on both sides of the ball. Play like it and embrace one of the best seasons in school history.
Ethan Barry (IPS Contributor)
Carolina 31, State 30
I think UNC will play their A game, and I think that alone is cause for concern. The gap between these two teams isn't as big as it feels, and we've seen State struggle to win games with their offense when they really needed to (Miami, Wake), in particular in the red zone. I think that pops up again and Howell is able to hit on enough big plays to allow UNC to pull the upset.
Jake McSwain (IPS Writer)
State 35, Carolina 24
I expect UNC’s offense to put up some points, but fortunately I also expect UNC’s defense to allow even more. NC State has been the more consistent team all year, and going into the last game of the regular season I put a ton of weight into that.
With how this series has historically gone this could end up being a blowout by either side and not be particularly surprising, but I feel reasonably confident the Pack pulls it out in the end.
BP Cox (IPS Photographer)
State 52, Carolina 38
This is it.
This is another one of the progressions NC State fans want to see the program take: The Wolfpack win when they have to. This time it just happens to be the 111th meeting with "part-time" arch rival UNC in Raleigh at Carter-Finley Stadium the day after Thanksgiving.
This is going to be the game that players like Drake Thomas have dreamt about when they made the decision to stay in North Carolina and play at NC State. If the Wolfpack can handle their business and beat UNC, and also get a little help with a Boston College win over Wake Forest on Saturday, then the Wolfpack will find themselves in the ACC championship game. The only thing they can control, however, is beating UNC.
I've spoken with folks inside the program, and the team and coaching staff are ready to make a program-defining statement versus the Tar Heels. I might sound like a broken record, but it will come down to two main factors: the NC State defense stepping up and the NC State offense owning the possession time category.
On offense look for Devin Leary to have a MONSTER game with at least 400 yards passing & three TDs. Also look for Ricky Person, having just declared his eligibility for the NFL Draft, to grind out a lot of yards as well. On defense I see Drake Thomas with three TFL & at least 10 tackles, Daniel Joseph to have a sack, and Tyler Baker-Williams AND Shy Battle both getting an interception.
This is it... time to take the next step forward.