Pitt-NC State Preview: Betting Odds, Channel, Storylines & More
The ACC race is heating up as the month of October comes to a close. Pitt sits at 5-2 overall and has strung together three conference wins in a row, placing them in the thick of things near the top of the standings.
NC State is 1-2 in the ACC and looking to turn things around in the back half of the season.
Pitt is 5-4-1 all-time against NC State. However, the Panthers have not defeated the Wolfpack since 2001. Pitt and NC State met in 2017 and 2020 at Heinz Field, both NC State victories.
Pitt Outlook
Pitt football has won three straight games over Boston College, Florida State and Syracuse. The win streak began when Pat Narduzzi and the staff made a change to true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel.
Heintschel faced some true adversity last week at Syracuse after opening the game with a 36-yard rushing touchdown. He did not throw a passing touchdown and tossed his third interception of the season, while finishing the game with a banged up throwing shoulder.
Pitt totaled 255 yards of offense, while limiting the Syracuse offense to just 212 yards in a 30-13 victory. Pitt forced three interceptions from Orange signal caller Rickie Collins with Tamon Lynum, Cruce Brookins and Kavir Bains-Marquez coming away with the picks.
The Panthers have been led by its run defense, which ranks fourth in the country. Pitt is limiting teams to 82.4 yards per game and shut down the Orange’s run game to 76 yards.
The Pitt defense has dealt with injuries across the board this season with the latest coming at linebacker. Pitt’s leading tackler Rasheem Biles was ruled out prior to the Syracuse game and Kyle Louis suffered a head injury in the first quarter. Both are still questionable heading into the NC State game.
Pitt ranks 20th in total defense and third in the nation with 8.4 tackles for loss per game.
On the offensive side of the ball, Pitt boasts the 13th-ranked scoring offense (38.4 points per game) and the 19th passing offense (285.1 yards per game).
Heintschel has completed 67-of-98 passes (68.4%) for 820 yards, six touchdown passes and three interceptions.
Raphael Williams Jr. leads the receiver room with 27 receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns.
Desmond Reid returned from injury against Florida State, but was limited against Syracuse. On the year, he has rushed for 225 yards and a score, while catching 14 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
Pitt center Lyndon Cooper will go up against his former team in the Wolfpack, where he spent the first three years of his career.
NC State
HEAD COACH
Dave Doeren (13th season at NC State – 15th overall as a head coach )
Doeren is the sixth-longest tenured head coach in the FBS and second-longest in the ACC. Since 2020, the Wolfpack rank second in the ACC with 40 overall wins and 26 in conference.
NC State is coming off a 6-7 2024 season in which it lost the Military Bowl to East Carolina. The Wolfpack put together a nine-win season in 2023 and have four nine-win seasons under Doeren.
NC STATE PREVIEW
NC State is coming of a bye week as it looks to return to the win column following a 36-7 loss to Notre Dame. A week prior, it defeated Campbell 56-10. The Wolfpack’s lone ACC win came against Wake Forest, 34-24.
Against the Fighting Irish, NC State allowed 485 yards of total offense and 342 passing yards.
Quarterback CJ Bailey completed 17-of-30 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
The ACC’s leading rusher Hollywood Smothers picked up 46 yards on 12 attempts. On the season, Smothers has compiled 739 yards and five touchdowns.
NC State averages 30 points per game and 417 total yards of offense.
Terrell Anderson leads the receiver room with 24 receptions for 445 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, NC State allows 26.5 points per game and 390.7 total yards of offense. It’s best statistical category comes in the red zone, with teams scoring 76.9 percent of the time — 25th-best in the FBS.
Caden Fordham leads the Wolfpack defense with 69 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks. Sean Brown has added 44 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Spread
Pitt is a 6.5-point favorite at home, according to Bet MGM. Pitt is -250 on the Money line and the over/under is set at 54.5.
Game Time
Pitt and NC State is set to kick off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
TV
Pitt vs. NC State can be found on the ACC Network with Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst) and Kendra Douglas (reporter) calling the game.
Radio
Pitt vs. NC State will be live on 93.7 The Fan as well with Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Pat Bostick (analyst), Dorin Dickerson (sideline) and Larry Richert (sideline) calling the action.
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