After passing their early season tests out of conference, the North Carolina State Wolfpack are sitting at 4-0, and just two wins away from bowl eligibility. They have already surpassed their win total of three from a season ago, and now have the highest profile matchup of the year this coming Saturday in Raleigh.
Florida State survived Clemson without Jameis Winston, and will look to keep their drive to the College Football Playoff alive with their Heisman quarterback under center once again.
NC State has outscored its opponents 161 – 74 in their first four games, with each of the wins getting progressively easier. They have hit the 40’s in three of four games.
In my first half preview, I thought 4-0 was a strong possibility. I never anticipated the mauling they gave South Florida. I expected a low scoring, down to the wire affair (which USF gave us in their rain soaked game against UConn)
NC State got by Georgia Southern, who in turn almost got by Georgia Tech. The Wolfpack and Yellow Jackets are the two Eagles losses this year, and they have racked up impressive rushing totals to boot.
Old Dominion was the Wolfpack’s third win, and the Monarchs are in first place in Conference-USA’s East Division, with Marshall their biggest threat (ODU gets the Herd at home Oct 4). Old Dominion’s sole loss is to the Wolfpack, and that one wasn’t out of reach until the second half.
NC State ran all over the field in Tampa against the USF Bulls. Bra’Lon Cherry, Bo Hines, and Shadrach Thornton contributed in the rout, with Cherry scoring three times (two touchdowns on two carries). Cherry had a couple muffed punts (which he recovered) against USF. The Wolfpack will need him to take better care of the ball in the conference games.
The less said the better on the NC State 42-0 pasting of the Presbyterian Blue Hose. Call it a tune up before Florida State comes to Carter-Finley Stadium. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been efficient in all four wins thus far, and he will need to be surgeon-like in his effort against the Seminoles.
Before NC State gets past four wins, there’s likely to be some losses in the coming weeks. The first is probably coming Saturday, and it might not be pretty. All the plays will need to be made, all the gaps covered. If they hang in the first half and can get the Noles on their heels in the third quarter, they’ve got a shot. If they give up a few scores without an answer, the comeback might not be the route to take in this game.
With four games in the books, and having seen the team week in, week out, we can assess that two more wins aren’t out of the picture. I initially had 5-7, but 6-6 is looking promising. Wake Forest is beatable, if not the easiest win sitting on the table.
Boston College can be beaten in the air, or have it ran down their throat a la Pittsburgh. BC stopped Southern California; though Cody Kessler drove the Trojans at will late in the fourth quarter to mount a comeback. NC State will need the run defense to show up to contend with the read option and quarterback Tyler Murphy.
Coach Dave Doeren has one more win than a year ago, but is still searching for an ACC win. FSU and Clemson will be quite the uphill battle to get that W, but the FSU spread sits at -18.5 for the Seminoles right now, and is just a bit more than FSU’s spread in their opener vs. Oklahoma State, who contended the entire game. State has won two in row against FSU at home, and has a chance for three in a row, and to take out number one.
If NC State takes care of Wake Forest at home, and manages another win in the second half, the Military, Independence or Detroit Bowl could be a possibility. If they sneak up to seven wins (upset BC, Syracuse, or UNC) they could stay in state and get an SEC team in Charlotte at the Belk Bowl. After an abysmal year in 2013, the Wolfpack are already improved, and winning the games they should. Now, can they move up in the ACC Atlantic?
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