NC State football game predictions: UVA
NC State kicks off its ACC schedule with a road matchup against Virginia Friday, Sept. 22, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va.. The Pack heads into the matchup 2-1 after picking up its first home win of the season in a 45-7 blowout over VMI.
UVA is 0-3 on the year after losing contests to Tennessee, James Madison and Maryland. Two of those three games were on the road. Now, the Cavaliers will defend their home stadium with the hopes of upsetting the Wolfpack.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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Here are TheWolfpacker.com’s staff predictions for this weekend.
Ethan McDowell’s prediction for NC State at UVA
The Wolfpack should start its ACC schedule with a win this week. Aside from an intriguing battle between a formidable UVA defensive front and NC State’s offensive line, the program matches up really well against the Cavaliers.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback for Virginia, FCS transfer Tony Muskett or Anthony Colandrea, I like the Pack’s chances. Colandrea can move around and make plays with his legs, but he is a young player who threw 3 interceptions on consecutive possessions against Maryland. NC State’s defense should have a good chance to throw him off his game and force some similar mistakes.
Muskett is a pocket passer and, considering UVA’s offensive line is not a strength of its team, the Wolfpack defensive line should be in the Cavaliers’ backfield early and often on Friday evening.
Wide receivers Malik Washington and Malachi Fields are playmakers who will probably break off a few big plays for Virginia, but offensive production should be difficult to come by otherwise.
NC State’s receivers should be able to get separation against an injured and, at times, porous UVA secondary. The Cavaliers’ defensive line will limit quarterback Brennan Armstrong’s time to throw, but he has already shown an ability to extend plays with his legs and keep the Wolfpack offense rolling.
Through three games, NC State started fast, and UVA finished slow. That is not a good recipe for an upset bid from the Cavaliers.
Prediction: NC State 31, UVA 13
Previous predictions:
NC State 45, VMI 0 (Actual: NC State 45, VMI 7)
Notre Dame 27, NC State 20 (Actual: Notre Dame 45, NC State 24)
NC State 24, UConn 10 (Actual: NC State 24, UConn 14)
Noah Fleischman’s prediction
NC State got back into the win column against VMI, but this week’s ACC opener at Virginia on Friday night will provide more of a test for the Wolfpack than the Keydets did.
It’s NC State quarterback Brennan Armstrong’s return to Charlottesville for the first time since he transferred, which is sure to fire him up along with the UVA defense and its fans. He has downplayed that part of the game this week publicly, but part of me believes that he has a little extra motivation to win this one.
UVA has struggled this season with an 0-3 start and has been outscored 47-3 in the fourth quarter. If NC State can jump out to another fast start like it did against VMI, then the Wolfpack should be in business.
Armstrong is comfortable inside Scott Stadium, and I think he will have his best passing game of the season and get close to 350 yards through the air. With that in mind, the Wolfpack should have no issues with pulling away from the Cavaliers on national television.
Prediction: NC State 31, UVA 10
Previous Predictions:
NC State 52, VMI 3 (Actual: NC State 45, VMI 7)
