NC State checks in at No. 47 in super-early 2019 S&P+ projections

Bill Connelly’s computatin’ machine sees a bit of decline in NC State’s near future, which is not at all surprising given that the Wolfpack once again has a lot of production to replace, this time with a lot of it on the offensive side. The Wolfpack is 47th in the early S&P+ projections for 2019.

That’s definitely-good-enough-to-make-a-bowl but definitely-not-good-enough-to-contend-in-the-ACC territory. Though that’s pretty much where everybody sits these days thanks to Clemson.

Finishing second in the Atlantic isn’t out of the question based on the early look, however. The Atlantic teams in order of 2019 S&P+ rating:

1. Clemson (3)
2. Florida State (28)
3. NC State (47)
4. Syracuse (56)
5. Wake Forest (62)
6. Boston College (72)
7. Louisville (87)

Florida State could easily underperform this season despite having strong overall recruiting in its corner—that offensive line isn’t going to become good overnight and I’m still unsure what to make of Willie Taggart.

The games against Wake and Syracuse will determine a lot, as was the case (alas) last season.