NC State football opens as underdog at UNC
It’s that time of the year. Rivalry week is upon the college football season as in-state foes prepare to duel on the gridiron to close out the 2024 regular season. That includes NC State, which is set to clash with North Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Keenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.
The Wolfpack is still in search of its sixth win of the season to earn bowl eligibility for the fifth consecutive year under coach Dave Doeren. But NC State will have to achieve that feat as a 3.5-point underdog at UNC, according to FanDuel, as it looks to avoid a three-game losing streak to close a season for the first time since the Pack’s 4-8 showing during the 2019 campaign.
NC State, however, is just 3-8 against the spread this season. The Wolfpack was a 33.5-point favorite in Week 1 against Western Carolina (it won by 17) and it was a 9.5-underdog against Tennessee (it lost by 41). The Pack was also a .20.5-point favorite against Louisiana Tech (it won by 10), a 17-point underdog at Clemson (a 24-point loss), a 4.5-point favorite against Wake Forest (a 4-point loss) and a 1-point favorite against Syracuse (a 7-point loss).
NC State covered as a 9.5-point underdog in a 24-23 win, as a 10-point favorite in its 59-28 win over Stanford, and most recently as a 7.5-point underdog at Georgia Tech (a 1-point loss).
UNC, meanwhile, is 2-8-1 against the spread this fall. The Tar Heels covered in a 41-14 win over Virginia on Oct. 26 (a 3.5-point underdog) and a 35-11 win at Florida State on Nov. 2 (a 2.5-point favorite). Most recently, UNC failed to cover as a 2.5-point favorite in a 41-21 loss at Boston College this past weekend.
Freshman quarterback CJ Bailey is 163-of-256 passing for 1,941 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season to pace the Wolfpack offense. He also has taken 18 sacks, while averaging 7.6 yards per completion in his first year of college football.
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The Wolfpack’s rushing attack has been paced by graduate Jordan Waters, who has 85 carries for 410 yards and four touchdowns, while sophomore running back Kendrick Raphael has added 65 carries for 371 yards and three scores. Redshirt freshman Hollywood Smothers has chipped in with 61 attempts for 349 yards and four touchdowns.
While the Pack’s running game finally hit its stride away from Raleigh with a 253-yard, four-touchdown performance on the ground at Georgia Tech, NC State’s aerial attack has been more consistent.
Junior tight end Justin Joly leads that group with 576 yards and three touchdowns on 37 receptions, while sophomore wideout Kevin “KC” Concepcion has 50 catches for 416 yards and five touchdowns. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Noah Rogers is the only other player with more than 300 yards through the air with 29 receptions for 375 yards and a touchdown this fall.
The Pack’s defense, meanwhile, has been led by redshirt junior linebacker Sean Brown’s 83 total tackles, including three sacks, while senior safety DK Kaufman has 63 total stops. Senior safety Bishop Fitzgerald has impressed in coverage this fall as he’s tied for the team lead with six passes defended and paces NC State with three interceptions.
