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Of late, NC State has been playing their best football of the last two seasons. An unfortunate injury to QB Devin Leary puts the positive momentum in question as the Wolfpack enter a matchup with their rivals from down the road. North Carolina features one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses, but also has a defense that’s allowed 76 points over the last two weeks.
Can the Wolfpack defense slow the Tar Heels offense enough to allow State’s offense to muster enough points to return to Raleigh with the win? Or will the season’s momentum swing to the opposite end as North Carolina utilizes an unfair advantage of playing in front of a full capacity crowd at home to capture the victory?
Each BTP contributor provides their score prediction below, plus a quick blurb on their predicted outcome. Here we go!
AlecLower
Prediction: 17-45 (L)
Comment: “This sucks, because State can absolutely beat UNC, but not without a quarterback. The game will be close in the first half, but at some point State will need a big sequence from its QB, and that’s when things will go sideways“
Why is this so hard?
Prediction: 20-29 (L)
Comment: “Defense does an admirable job but the Pack can’t quite keep up without Leary. Beat the spread streak continues.“
Steven
Prediction: 24-38 (L)
Comment: “I don’t think Bailey Hockman is capable of getting State to the 30-point threshold, and ultimately I think Carolina’s potent offense will wear down State’s defense.“
JEOHankins2
Prediction: 28-41 (L)
Comment: “First half is close, State even with a brief lead at some point. Second half offense stalls/mistakes, Chapel Hill hits some chunk plays...State scores late to give some hope but falls short. Great effort all around though“
WROncsu
Prediction: 17-34 (L)
Comment: “Fibula issues derail State’s winning streak. Carolina committed academic fraud.“
no23sports
Prediction: 24-34 (L)
Comment: “A close game at the end of the 3rd quarter, but unfortunately the Heels are a 4th quarter team.“
TheRealEssad
Prediction: 20-37 (L)
Comment: “I was so hyped for this game being a ranked match up for the first time in a generation right up until Leary got hit with a dirty play. Now, State might cover the spread.“
PirateWolf
Prediction: 30-28 (W)
Comment: “Fine, I’ll be the positive voice. State leans on the run game and OL dominates while Autenrieth & Parham clean up the LBs like champs. D forces some key TOs. Chris Dunn is the better kicker and that’s the difference.“
BTP Staff Cumulative Prediction: 23-36 (L)
Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments!