NC State football vs. Syracuse: What others are picking for Saturday
The Wolfpacker staff has made its predictions for Saturday’s NC State football game against Syracuse, with both Matt Carter and Justin H. Williams forecasting a Wolfpack victory.
What do others think?
It’s pretty universal agreement with The Wolfpacker.
Pete Piutak has NC State football winning rather comfortably, 34-20.
“Devin Leary keeps on playing like he belongs in the conversation of the ACC’s top quarterbacks – yes, even with Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell,” Fiutak wrote. “He’s coming off a 408-yard day against Wake Forest, he threw four touchdown passes in each of his last three games, and over 300 yards in each of his last four, and …
“The NC State run defense will take care of this.”
Mike Ferguson of Athlon Sports has NC State doubling up the Orange, 34-17
“Given NC State’s stout rushing defense, Syracuse will likely have to make plays in the passing game to win,” Ferguson noted. “Carter-Finley Stadium is a hostile crowd, and that’s a tall task for Shrader and Co. — NC State has yet to lose at home this season. Syracuse’s passing defense has struggled mightily on the road this season and was recently gashed by Louisville’s Malik Cunningham. Against Leary and his weapons, it could be a long day for the Orange.”
At Bleacher Report, Kerry Miller goes even more lopsided: NC State winning 38-17.
“NC State’s defense had a rare off night in a 45-42 road loss to a potent Wake Forest offense, but it should return to form this week against a more one-dimensional Syracuse,” Miller stated.
The Orange run well between Sean Tucker and Garrett Shrader, but their passing threat is almost nonexistent, and the Wolfpack have allowed an average of 100.9 rushing yards and 0.5 rushing touchdowns per game.
“Syracuse might run for a couple of scores, but it won’t be enough to make up for a defense that has allowed at least 33 points in four of its last six games.”
ESPN’s FPI gives the Wolfpack an 86.5 percent change of winning the contest.
At CBSSports.com, although not picking outright winners, the verdict was split on who take with the spread, where NC State football is favored by 11.5 points.
Tom Fornelli, David Cobb, Shehan Jeyarajah and Jerry Palm all said take the Pack and the points. Dennis Dodd, Chip Patterson and Barrett Sallee are betting on Syracuse.
Locally, WRALSportsFan’s Lauren Brownlow is also going with a lopsided margin of 37-13 in favor of the Wolfpack.
“Syracuse maybe fights for, like, a half,” she wrote.
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