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NC State opens as underdog against Tennessee

image_6483441 (3)by: Noah Fleischman09/01/24fleischman_noah
NC State Football STOCK
Aug 29, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; before the first half of the game against Western Carolina Catamounts at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

After NC State knocked off Western Carolina 38-21 on Thursday night at Carter-Finley Stadium, the Wolfpack has turned its attention to a neutral-site bout in Charlotte with No. 15 Tennessee in the Duke’s Mayo Classic 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 contest as the underdog. Tennessee opened as a 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 the 33.5-point spread by which was favored to beat Western Carolina. 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.

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 9 passes for 121 yards to go with his three trips to the end zone. 

In addition to the passing attack, Pack graduate running back Jordan Waters helped on the ground, too. He had 123 rushing yards, tying his career-best, with 2 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’ sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns in the first half before he was pulled ahead of the third quarter. 

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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