NC State opens as underdog against Tennessee

After NC State knocked off Western Carolina 38-21 on Thursday night at Carter-Finley Stadium, the Wolfpack has its attention turned to a bout with No. 15 Tennessee in the Duke’s Mayo Kickoff in Week 2.

And while the Pack has an early-season test against one of the SEC’s best at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, NC State will enter the neutral-site contest as the underdog. Tennessee opened as the 6.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel, with an over/under point total of 55.5 on Sunday morning.

In Week 1, NC State failed to cover a 33.5-point spread it was favored against Western Carolina with. The Pack, which trailed 17-14 going into the fourth quarter, found a way to storm back with 21-unanswered points to win the game. The under hit in the contest as well.

Graduate quarterback Grayson McCall led the Wolfpack to victory with 318 passing yards and a trio of touchdowns, all to sophomore wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion . Concepcion, the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, caught nine passes for 121 yards to go with his trips to the end zone.

In addition to the passing attack, Pack graduate running back Jordan Waters helped on the ground, too. He has 123 rushing yards, tying his career-best, with two touchdowns on the ground.

Tennessee, meanwhile, cruised to a 69-3 win over Chattanooga in its season opener Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Volunteers’ quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in the first half before he was pulled ahead of the third quarter beginning.

A year ago, NC State was 7-6 against the spread, but it had a 5-2 mark when playing at Carter-Finley Stadium, according to The Action Network. The Pack is 0-1 against the spread in 2024.

NC State is looking to earn its second win of the season against a high-powered Tennessee offense, and it will have to do it as the underdog in the Queen City. The Wolfpack is 1-3 against the Volunteers all-time, with the lone victory coming in a 16-0 win during the 1911 campaign.

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