NC State heads into UNC game as 8-point underdog

We’ve had our fun in this series over the last, oh, 12 years or so, but the pendulum was bound to swing back the other way at some point. Now we head into rivalry week with the least amount of enthusiasm from the NC State side since, what, 2013? 2009? It’s been a minute since UNC had something to play for while the Wolfpack didn’t.

The oddsmakers aren’t expecting State to play the Tar Heels especially close, and with early money siding on UNC, the Heels are an eight-point favorite heading into Saturday. Seems a little low, honestly.

But maybe it won’t be that bad! State has won in this situation before, though that was when it had Russell Wilson at quarterback, which is a bit of a key difference.

This time around, UNC definitely has the better quarterback, in addition to the better team, and it’s hard to be optimistic about State’s chances given all that. Even setting aside the Pack’s depleted roster. But the game must go on.