NC State football game predictions: Wake Forest

NC State hits the road for Wake Forest this weekend, traveling to a notoriously tough place to play for the program. In its past three trips to Winston-Salem, the Wolfpack lost each contest, including a pair of one-score setbacks.

Wake Forest sits 4-5 on the year and is competing for a chance at bowl eligibility. Its sub-.500 mark includes a 1-5 record in the ACC. NC State is 6-3, winning its past two games against Clemson and Miami. The Pack has a chance to exorcise its demons in its second in-state game of the year Saturday.

Here are TheWolfpacker.com’s predictions for the ACC matchup. The game kicks off Saturday at 2 p.m. on The CW Network.

Ethan McDowell’s prediction for NC State vs. Wake Forest

NC State struggles at Wake Forest, winning 1 game its past 10 trips to Winston-Salem. The Wolfpack will break that tough trend this weekend no matter who lines up at quarterback. I expect Brennan Armstrong will start the game and the defense to help propel the visitors to victory.

Wake Forest’s offense is tied for last in the ACC with 23 total touchdowns and averages just 22.1 points per game. In conference play, that average drops to 16.5. The Demon Deacons have not scored more than 21 points against an ACC team this fall.

NC State has its own offensive struggles and averaged 16.2 points per game in its 5 conference clashes of the fall. Over the past two games against Clemson and Miami, offensive coordinator Robert Anae has injected some excitement into this offense, deploying unique formations, playing new faces in the backfield and finding a variety of ways to get star freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion the ball.

It is not always a pretty product but, with 2 turnovers in 2 games, the unit is doing a better job playing complementary football with a defense that is at the top of its game right now. Considering Wake Forest’s lackluster offense, NC State should be able to make the Demon Deacons one-dimensional and, if it does so, Tony Gibson’s unit will put together another standout performance.

With Armstrong under center, the Wolfpack will rely on its ground game, controlling the clock and minimizing turnovers. NC State’s rushing attack showed promise against Miami, totaling 108 yards against a defense that allowed just 86.9 per game coming to that matchup.

NC State’s defense will have to slow down a dynamic receiving corps led by Jahmal Banks and keep quarterback Mitch Griffis guessing with unique pressures. The field position and turnover battles will tip the scales in the Pack’s favor leading to the program’s seventh win of the fall.

Prediction: NC State 17, Wake Forest 9

Previous predictions: 

NC State 27, Miami 24 (Actual: NC State 20, Miami 6)
Clemson 17, NC State 14 (Actual: NC State 24, Clemson 17)
Duke 17, NC State 16 (Actual: Duke 24, NC State 3)
NC State 27, Marshall 13 (Actual: NC State 48, Marshall 41)
NC State 31, Louisville 30 (Actual: Louisville 13, NC State 10)
NC State 31, UVA 13 (Actual: NC State 24, UVA 21)
NC State 45, VMI 0 (Actual: NC State 45, VMI 7)
Notre Dame 27, NC State 20 (Actual: Notre Dame 45, NC State 24)
NC State 24, UConn 10 (Actual: NC State 24, UConn 14)

Noah Fleischman’s prediction

This will be a matchup of two stout defenses when NC State travels to Wake Forest to kick off a two-game road swing. The Wolfpack has not found consistent success in Winston-Salem in decades, and it only has two wins there since 2001. 

NC State’s offense will likely have a new face at quarterback with sophomore signal-caller MJ Morris redshirting the rest of the regular season (he would be able to play in the team’s bowl game and maintain his redshirt). Virginia transfer Brennan Armstrong is the expected starter without Morris in the lineup, and he is coming off his most successful game since being benched after week five.

Armstrong led the team in rushing in NC State’s 20-6 win over Miami last week with eight carries for 51 yards. While he has not attempted a pass since the Wolfpack’s 13-10 loss to Louisville, Armstrong has still been involved in the team’s game planning each week. 

Armstrong’s expected start may serve as another jolt of energy for the Wolfpack. Morris’ first start brought a “spark” to the team, and Armstrong might inspire more confidence in the team as well.

NC State’s offense has found success with getting the ball to freshman Kevin Concepcion, who has been the team’s leading receiver in six games, including each of the last four. The Wolfpack will likely look to get the ball in his hands again this week against the Demon Deacons. 

With that in mind, NC State will reverse the nightmare that Winston-Salem has been and come out with Dave Doeren’s second career win at Wake Forest. 

Prediction: NC State 24, Wake Forest 10

Previous Predictions:

NC State 17, Miami 14 (Actual: NC State 20, Miami 6)
NC State 19, Clemson 13 (Actual: NC State 24, Clemson 17)
NC State 24, Duke 20 (Actual: Duke 24, NC State 3)
NC State 24, Marshall 10 (Actual: NC State 48, Marshall 41)
Louisville 35, NC State 21 (Actual: Louisville 13, NC State 10)
NC State 31, UVA 10 (Actual: NC State 24, UVA 21)
NC State 52, VMI 3 (Actual: NC State 45, VMI 7)