After <a href="https://gopack.com/">NC State</a> logged its first home loss of the season — a 34-30 defeat to Wake Forest this past weekend — the Wolfpack is now a home underdog for the first time this fall. 



The Pack opened as a 2.5-point underdog against Syracuse this weekend, according to <a href="https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/odds/north-carolina-state-wolfpack">Action Network</a>. The over/under was set at 56.5 points in the game, which is set for Saturday night at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network. 



NC State, however, has yet to cover the spread this fall. The Wolfpack was a 33.5-point favorite in Week 1 against Western Carolina (it won by 17) and a 9.5-underdog against Tennessee (it lost by 41). The Pack was also a 20.5-point favorite against Louisiana Tech (it won by 10), a 17-point underdog at Clemson (a 24-point loss) and a 4.5-point favorite against Wake Forest (a 4-point loss). 



The over has hit in four of the Wolfpack’s first six games. The under only happened against Western Carolina and Northern Illinois this fall. 



Syracuse (4-1, 1-1 ACC), meanwhile, is 2-3 against the spread this season. The Orange were a 3-point underdog against Georgia Tech (they won by 3), and they covered a +5.5 underdog line at UNLV this past weekend with a 44-41 overtime win in Las Vegas. 



NC State quarterback <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/cj-bailey-151582/">CJ Bailey</a> appears to be the Wolfpack’s starting signal-caller going into this weekend’s game. He is 70-of-107 for 741 yards with 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions this season. Bailey has also been sacked 5 times this fall. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/rdura-aloft-raleigh/"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="400" height="100" src="https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2021/11/01151806/Aloft-Digital-400x100-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-394349" srcset="https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2021/11/01151806/Aloft-Digital-400x100-1.jpg 400w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2021/11/01151806/Aloft-Digital-400x100-1-300x75.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></figure>



While Bailey is likely at the controls again this weekend, sophomore running back <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/kendrick-raphael-72957/">Kendrick Raphael</a> is the Wolfpack’s leading rusher. He has 43 carries for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns, and is averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. Graduate <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jordan-waters-66168/">Jordan Waters</a> is right behind him with 246 yards and 2 scores on the ground. 



Junior tight end <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/justin-joly-145182/">Justin Joly</a> is the Wolfpack’s leading receiver with 20 catches for 313 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore wideout <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/kevin-concepcion-146422/">Kevin “KC” Concepcion</a> has 37 grabs for 266 yards with 4 TDs, while redshirt freshman wide receiver <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/noah-rogers-93725/">Noah Rogers</a> has 15 catches for 193 yards this season. 



NC State is 13-3 all time against Syracuse, including a 7-1 mark inside Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack and Orange most recently met in 2022, a 24-9 Syracuse win inside the JMA Wireless Dome. NC State beat Syracuse 41-17 in 2021, the last time the two teams played in Raleigh.

NC State senior wide receiver Wesley Grimes clocked 4.24 seconds in 40-yard dash this offseason.

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