NC State opens as double-digit favorite vs. Stanford
As NC State comes off its first of two open weeks, the Wolfpack is a double-digit favorite against Stanford.
The Pack is favored by 10.5 points with the Cardinal preparing to visit Carter-Finley Stadium for the first time ever, according to Action Network. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on ACC Network.
NC State, however, has covered the spread once this fall. 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) and a 4.5-point favorite against Wake Forest (a 4-point loss). NC State covered as a 9.5-point underdog in a 24-23 win at Cal last weekend.
Stanford, meanwhile, is 2-5-1 against the spread this season. The Cardinal covered against TCU (+8, lost 34-27) and Syracuse (+9.5, won 26-24), while they ha a push in a 3-point loss to Wake Forest this past weekend. Stanford didn’t cover its spread against _ (-35, won 4-17), Clemson (+24, lost 40-14), Virginia Tech (+9.5, lost 31-7), Notre Dame (+23, lost 49-7) and SMU (+17, 40-10).
Freshman quarterback CJ Bailey is 112-of-167 passing for 1,376 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions this season to pace the Wolfpack offense. He also has taken 13 sacks, while averaging 8.2 yards per completion in his first year of college football.
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While Bailey leads the passing attack, junior tight end Justin Joly has 26 receptions for 447 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion leads the Pack receivers with four touchdowns through the air to go with 43 receptions and 365 yards.
Sophomore running back Kendrick Raphael leads NC State on the ground with 54 carries for 287 yards and three touchdowns, while senior running back Jordan Waters has 66 attempts for 260 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Rounding out the Wolfpack’s impact players is redshirt freshman running back Hollywood Smothers, who is a do-it-all player for NC State. The former Oklahoma transfer has 33 carries for 157 yards and one touchdown, while he has added 12 receptions for 175 yards and a score this fall.
