NC State football projections on ESPN's FPI
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) for the 2023 football season were recently released. NC State football was No. 36 in the preseason edition.
How does that stack up?
Here are the rankings of the opponents on the NC State football schedule:
8. Clemson (Oct. 28 in Raleigh)
9. Notre Dame (Sept. 9 in Raleigh)
25. North Carolina (Nov. 25 in Raleigh)
29. Miami (Nov. 4 in Raleigh)
36. NC State
46. Louisville (Friday, Sept. 29 in Raleigh)
47. Wake Forest (Nov. 11 in Winston-Salem, N.C.)
53. Duke (Oct. 14 in Durham, N.C.)
63. Virginia Tech (Nov. 18 in Blacksburg, Va.)
66. Marshall (Oct. 7 in Raleigh)
72. Virginia (Friday, Sept. 22 in Charlottesville, Va.)
119. Connecticut (Sept. 2 in Storrs, Conn.)
FPI also projects that NC State football will go 7.4-4.7 on the season, or more simply put either 7-5 or 8-4. The good news for NC State is that the five toughest games on the slate, at least on FPI, are in Raleigh.
Here is how FPI breaks down the odds for NC State in its games.
NC State Football Should Win
Sept. 16 vs. VMI: 99.0 percent
The 1-win Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member is not listed in the FPI because those rankings are reserved for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) squads.
Sept. 2 at UConn: 87.3 percent
FPI is not conceding this game as a gimme for NC State, but the Wolfpack nevertheless is heavily anticipated to win the game.
Oct. 7 vs. Marshall: 80.2 percent
Among Group of Five teams, Marshall is one of the more highly regarded ones. The Thundering Herd ranks sixth amongst those teams and is the highest of the Sun Belt Conference members. Marshall also has a recent history of surprising teams, winning at Notre Dame last year.
Thus, this is another game that is not considered a gimme for NC State, but the Pack is an anticipated winner.
Wolfpack Is Favored
Sept. 22 at Virginia: 73.0 percent
The Cavaliers are in rebuilding mode, and there is some added motivation on the NC State sideline in the return to Charlottesville of former UVa record-setting quarterback Brennan Armstrong.
Sept. 29 vs. Louisville: 67.8 percent
The Cardinals beat NC State this past season, but that game was in Louisville. NC State was also without its top two quarterbacks. Furthermore, Louisville is in transition and suffered some heavy personnel losses.
Top 10
- 1
Phil Longo Fired
Wisconsin announces firing of OC
- 2
Iowa QB out
Ankle injury sidelines Brendan Sullivan
- 3
Peter Boulware chimes in
FSU legend offers Norvell advice
- 4
Paul Finebaum
'Kirby Smart was different'
- 5
AP Poll Shakeup
New Top 25 shows big fallout from Saturday
Nov. 18 at Virginia Tech: 66.3 percent
NC State had to rally from down 21-3 in the second half to beat Virginia Tech in Raleigh this past season, but FPI is still expecting the Pack to be favored.
Toss-Ups
Nov. 4 vs. Miami (55.8 percent)
The Hurricanes are rated higher on FPI, but NC State has the homefield advantage.
Oct. 14 at Duke (53.8 percent)
The Blue Devils were a big surprise in year one under head coach Mike Elko, and this game will be in Durham. However, FPI has NC State rated a good bit higher.
Nov. 25 vs. UNC (48.9 percent)
Similar to Miami, only the Heels are rated even higher than the Hurricanes. NC State has won the last two in the series.
Nov. 11 at Wake Forest (48.0 percent)
The reverse of Miami, where the Pack is rated higher but Wake Forest is at home. NC State football has a poor recent history of games in Winston-Salem.
NC State Is Underdogs
Sept. 9 vs. Notre Dame (28.4 percent)
NC State is 1-0 against Notre Dame in Raleigh. FPI thinks the Pack is a good bet tol be 1-1 after this game.
Oct. 28 vs. Clemson (27.0 percent)
Despite NC State playing at home and coming off a bye, FPI still believes the Tigers to be well-favored.
