Syracuse vs NC State Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Florida State saved NC State.

The problems with the Seminoles overshadowed what a massive disappointment the Wolfpack have been in a rough start without a win over a Power Four team and an 0-2 ACC start.

This is supposed to be when the team is rocking in a stretch of five home games in six, but a weird loss to Wake Forest derailed that.

On the flip side, Syracuse pulled out a thriller over UNLV to get to 4-1 as part of a brutal run of five road games in six dates with a trip to Pitt up next.

Syracuse vs NC State Preview

Syracuse vs NC State How to Watch
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2024
Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
Venue: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
How to Watch: ACC Network
NC State (3-3), Syracuse (4-1)

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Why Syracuse Will Win

The passing game continues to be a killer.

As it turns out, that Ohio State guy is pretty good - Kyle McCord has thrown for over 330 yards every game so far. There might be a few picks - five in the last three games - and 17 scores.

NC State isn’t generating enough of a pass rush, the defense as a whole is the worst in the ACC in points allowed giving up close to 34 points per game, and it’s giving up too many yards through the air.

Combine the struggling defense with an offense that’s likely missing QB Grayson McCall - who left the Wake Forest game with a frightening injury that put him in the concussion protocol - and …

Why NC State Will Win

NC State might have lost, but it wasn’t bad against the Wake Forest passing attack.

The run defense is the bigger issue, but that’s not a concern here. The Wolfpack gave up 161 rushing yards or more in the three losses, and allowed 120 rushing yards or fewer in the three wins.

Syracuse can get there if it commits to the ground game, but that’s not what it does. The offense has yet to hit the 140-yard rushing mark in five games.

Syracuse vs NC State: Who Will Win

Can NC State keep the turnovers to a minimum?

Syracuse doesn’t do enough to take the ball away with two picks against Stanford, three spread out against everyone else, and no fumble recoveries. NC State turned it over multiple times in the three losses, one or none in the three wins, and …

The Pack are overdue to start playing far better, but the Orange offense will be too overwhelming.

Syracuse vs NC State Prediction, Betting Lines

Syracuse 31, NC State 27
Line: Syracuse -3, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Syracuse vs NC State Must See Rating: 3

Week 7 CFN Expert Picks
Northwestern at Maryland | UNLV at Utah St
Utah at Arizona St | South Carolina at Alabama
Washington at Iowa | Texas vs Oklahoma
Penn State at USC | Stanford at Notre Dame
Arizona at BYU | Florida at Tennessee
Ohio State at Oregon | Ole Miss at LSU
Kansas St at Colorado | Boise St at Hawaii