NC State opens as two-score underdog at Cal
Another week, another time NC State will be an underdog. The Wolfpack opened with a 10.5-point spread advantage ahead of its trip to Cal on Saturday afternoon in Berkley, Calif, according to Action Network.
NC State has yet to cover the spread this fall. The Wolfpack was a 33.5-point favorite in Week 1 against Western Carolina (it won by 17) and 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 lost to Syracuse by 7 points as a 1-point underdog this past weekend.
Cal, meanwhile, is 4-2 against the spread this season. The Bears covered against Auburn (won by 7, +12 spread), San Diego State (won by 21, -19.5 spread), Miami (lost by 1, +10 spread) and Pittsburgh (lost by 2, +3.5 spread). Cal did not cover against UC Davis (won by 18, -20.5 spread) and at Florida State (lost by 5, +3 spread).
The Bears have hit the under in all but one of their games this season. This week’s over/under is set for 46.5 at California Memorial Stadium.
Freshman quarterback CJ Bailey has thrown for 1,070 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions with a 66.4% completion rate this fall in relief of an injured graduate Grayson McCall.
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While the quarterback position has a youth movement, it is not the only position on the offense that is using young players this season. Sophomore running back Kendrick Raphael leads the Pack’s rushing attack with 277 yards and three touchdowns, while sophomore wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion has 39 receptions for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior tight end Justin Joly is the Wolfpack’s leading receiver with 22 catches for 352 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while redshirt freshman wide receiver Noah Rogers has 19 receptions for 288 yards with a score this season.
Redshirt junior linebacker Sean Brown is the Pack’s leading tackler with 50 total stops, including three sacks, while fellow classmate Caden Fordham is one back of Brown. But the latter will miss the rest of the season with an injury. Senior safety DK Kaufman has added 46 tackles with an interception this fall.
