NC State Wolfpack 2021 College Football Preview
Created August 5, 2021
2020 Recap
Record – 8-4
ATS – 8-4
The Pack booked a very impressive eight-win campaign and exceeded many folks’ expectations including our own. They started fast (4-1) and finished well winning their final four regular season games. Kentucky took them down in the Gator Bowl (L 23-21) but they have to head into 2021 feeling pretty good about themselves. Let’s go!
NC State Wolfpack 2021 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Pack proved that they could be pretty good on offense with either Bailey Hockman or Devin Leary under center (combined 21-13 TD to INT, 62%) and ranked #36 in the FBS in passing offense. Hockman threw a few too many picks and is no longer here. Devin Leary takes over and he looked solid before being injured LY. The WR corps is one of the most lethal in the ACC and returns the top-three who combined for 1,744Y and 13 TDs in 2020 (Emezie, Thomas, Carter). Losing ace TE Cary Angeline (6 TD) stings a bit. The HITS KEEP COMING on offense when you think about the awesome 1-2 RB combo of Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person (14 TDs, 1400Y+). The OL brings back over 70 starts and they’re strong at LT and C. Hopefully the pass protection can improve (32 sacks allowed LY, #9 ACC per game basis). NC State could be really good on offense if Leary is as good as we think. <grabs popcorn>
DEFENSE
The defense displayed a bit of a SOFT UNDERBELLY vs the run LY (174 YPG, #7 ACC) but were decent vs the pass (#3 pass efficiency D). 10 starters are back on this side of the football (top-11 tacklers) and there’s reason to expect a good-sized improvement overall. DE Daniel Joseph is a dangerous pass rusher (6.5 sacks LY), they have good size inside, and the addition of DE Cory Durden from Florida St can’t hurt. The LB duo of Peyton Wilson and Isaiah Moore (top-two tacklers, 22.5 TFL combined) is one of the best in the ACC, and all starters are back in the secondary. Depth back there is also beefed up with a few interesting transfers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Continuity abounds. They return a decent P,PK combo in Trenton Gill and Christopher Dunn and have potent weapons at PR and KR.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They don’t have any KILLERS to face in non-conference play. The road game at Mississippi St is a winnable one. The draw from the Coastal division is a bit rough (Miami, North Carolina), and note that they have a stretch of four road games in five starting mid-season.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Wake Forest (November 13th)
This will be their fourth road game in less than 30 days and Wake can SCORE the FOOTBALL.
Season Win Total
Per 5Dimes August 5
Over 6.5 +125
Under 6.5 -105
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over.
Don’t see too many unwinnable games on the schedule but it doesn’t help to draw the Hurricanes and Tar Heels. Still feels like a good shot at plus money.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Pack has won or shared 7 ACC Championships but haven’t turned the trick since 1979 when they edged out Clemson and Maryland by a game.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
The Wolfpack have been a quietly-consistent program under the tutelage of HC Dave Doeren and have booked six winning seasons in the last seven years. This has the potential to be his best team yet with a ton of returning starters AND most importantly, TALENTED doods on both side of the football. The schedule isn’t easy but these guys look dangerous on paper and are a legit SURPRISE PACKAGE.
Want more NC State football ?
WEBSITE
https://gopack.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina-state/Board/PackPride-Sports-103752/
https://ncstate.forums.rivals.com/forums/the-wolves-den.8/
NEWS
http://www.backingthepack.com/nc-state-football
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/152/nc-state-wolfpack
TWITTER
Hashtag – #1Pack1Goal
Accounts to follow