NC State game predictions: Week 3 vs. Texas Tech

NC State moved forward from its one-point win over East Carolina and defeated Charleston Southern last week in dominant fashion. Heading into the weekend, Wolfpack is locked-in and ready for its matchup against Texas Tech in front of a sold out crowd.

The Red Raiders are 2-0 and, despite an injury to their starting quarterback, received votes in both the AP and Coaches Polls after defeating a ranked Houston team. Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire spent the week preparing his team for what promises to be a raucous environment in Raleigh this weekend, and the Big-12 program will absolutely be prepared for its No. 12-ranked ACC opponent.

Subscribe to The Wolfpacker today for a limited-time $1 deal for a year of premium access

Here are The Wolfpacker’s predictions for this Saturday’s matchup against Texas Tech:

Matt Carter’s prediction for NC State vs. Texas Tech

In some ways, Texas Tech and NC State are similar programs. Each are fairly good models of consistently at being competently good more seasons than not but perhaps equally struggling to reach elite status.

Since 2000, Texas Tech has gone 158-111 overall, finishing the year ranked in the top 25 five times and playing in 16 bowl games. However, only once has the Red Raiders won double-digit games, and the highest finish in the polls was No. 12.

In that same time span, NC State has gone 143-121, finishing ranked in the polls on 4 occasions and going to 16 bowls as well. Like Texas Tech, only once did NC State had a double-digit winning campaign and the highest finish in the polls was 12th.

This year though NC State football is aiming to elevate the program to a higher level, and the Red Raiders are an opponent that stands in the way.

Texas Tech has a lot of intriguing pieces on the roster that will face the Wolfpack Saturday:

• An athletic, accurate quarterback with a strong arm.

• Two capable, veteran running backs.

• A mixture of tall, physical outside receivers with speedier slot options.

• A potential first-round NFL Draft pick on the edge.

• A veteran, deep middle of the defense with the tackles and middle linebackers.

• The capacity to start 5 seniors in the secondary.

• An NFL-caliber punter who may be the nation’s best.

Makes you wonder why the Red Raiders did not have more preseason respect, right?

However, the same Texas Tech team has questions on the offensive line, and with a rookie head coach and new coordinators are sure to have some growing pains along the way. The guess here is that the Red Raiders will continue to be good this year, but going on the road for the first time proves too much for them.

Prediction: NC State 30, Texas Tech 17

Previous Predictions: 

Week 1: NC State 34, East Carolina 17 (actual: NC State 21, East Carolina 20)

Week 2: NC State 48, Charleston Southern 7 (actual: NC State 55, Charleston Southern 3)

Ethan McDowell’s prediction

This Saturday’s stage at Carter-Finley Stadium is one NC State has waited more than nine months to play on. East Carolina kept things too close for comfort, and Charleston Southern was a great chance to grow as a team, but Texas Tech will be the Pack’s greatest test of the season so far. 

The Red Raiders started the season fast, winning their first couple of games, including a top-25 win over Houston, and are now riding plenty of momentum with first-year head coach Joey McGuire. There is plenty of talent throughout the roster despite last year’s 7-6 record.

Tyree Wilson has the potential to wreck games off the edge, and NC State’s tackles will have their hands full blocking him, and quarterback Donovan Smith has stepped into the starting role pretty seamlessly. With that said, the Wolfpack’s experience, suffocating defense and intense home-field advantage should be enough to slow down the Red Raiders enough to emerge with a victory.

NC State showed it is able to shut down a pass-heavy offense last week against Charleston Southern. The talent level obviously increases significantly with Texas Tech, and the Red Raiders have a much better ground game with Tahj Brooks and SaRodorick Thompson, but, if the team continues to lean on Smith’s arm, I like the Pack’s chances.

The Wolfpack puts its winning streak at home on the line this weekend, and I expect the program to win its 12-consecutive game inside Carter-Finley Stadium late Saturday night.

Prediction: NC State 35, Texas Tech 20

Previous Predictions: 

Week 1: NC State 38, East Carolina 10 (actual: NC State 21, East Carolina 20)

Week 2: NC State 52, Charleston Southern 6 (actual: NC State 55, Charleston Southern)