Former Alabama QB Greg McElroy predicts winner of Tennessee Vols vs NC State Wolfpack

The Tennessee Vols are set to take on the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Tennessee is coming off a 69-3 win against Chattanooga. NC State, meanwhile, had to grind out a 38-21 win against Western Carolina last weekend.

Every early-season game is essentially a must-win for the Vols if they hope to make the College Football Playoff this season. If they drop this matchup to NC State, it puts added pressure on Tennessee to win key games against Oklahoma, Florida, and Alabama.

Former Alabama quarterback turned ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, though, doesn't think Tennessee will have too many issues against NC State. He has the Vols beating the Wolfpack in Charlotte this weekend due in large part to UT's dominant defensive line.

"I'm taking the Tennessee Volunteers here," said McElroy on Thursday's episode of Always College Football. "I think they have a little more firepower. And I think they will avoid a costly mistake. And really, I think it's the pass rush of Tennessee that's going to ultimately win them this game. We're going to talk about Nico (Iamaleava), we're going to talk about the weapons, I think it's the pass rush of Tennessee and the experience they have with that group and the versatility they have at that group that ultimately tips the scales in their favor."

Tennessee last played NC State in 2012 in a neutral site matchup in Atlanta. NC State was hyped all offseason and many national analysts picked the Wolfpack to beat the Vols in 2012.

Instead, the Vols laid the smackdown on NC State that night. Tennessee left Atlanta with a 35-21 win against NC State thanks to huge performances from Tyler Bray and Cordarrelle Patterson.

It could be déjà vu for the Wolfpack on Saturday night in Charlotte.

Related: Pair of former Tennessee Vols assistants involved in some early-season college football drama