It is been hard for both teams, but in different ways.
NC State was expected to step up and take over right away, but they have been struggling in every game. It needs to win an ACC game to get back on track. Their next five games are all at home.
Wake Forest has yet to beat an FBS team. It lost by a total of four points to Virginia and Louisiana. This is the first of three road games in four days and five in the next seven. If you start with 1-4, there is almost no chance that you will go bowling.
NC State vs Wake Forest Preview
NC State vs Wake Forest How to Watch
Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
Venue: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC How to Watch: CW Network
NC State (3-2), Wake Forest (1-3)
Why Wake Forest Will Win
The offensive line is doing a good job of keeping teams out of the backfield, and the passing game is still strong.
The line is not great at protecting the pass, but they do not make many stops for loss, and quarterback Hank Bachmeier is still good. He could use some more help, but he completed 83% of his passes against Louisiana and did a good job of distributing the ball.
The NC State offence has stopped moving. It had a tough game against Northern Illinois, it is not consistent, and there is nothing going on down the field. But…
Why NC State Will Win
Wake Forest’s run defence has not been good.
Virginia threw too much and did not run enough, but Ole Miss gained yards quickly and Louisiana ran for 209 yards. The NC State running game needs to start now if it ever wants to work.
It has not been bad when the team does it, but they have not done 40 runs yet this year. At least five yards per pop should be the norm, but State has not gotten there against an FBS team yet. Something is wrong.
But Wake Forest’s pass defence is also bad; they give up 286 yards per game, so…
NC State vs Wake Forest: Who Will Win
NC State should be able to pick its poison.
It’s been painful for the Wolfpack to keep the chains moving, but this is when everything should start to perk up a bit. The game will be a bit too close – the team is struggling to make things easy – but Wake Forest has more issues.
The Demon Deacon defense will once again be a soft breeze.
NC State vs Wake Forest Prediction, Betting Lines
NC State 34, Wake Forest 27
Line: NC State -4.5, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
NC State vs Wake Forest Must See Rating: 2.5
