NC State vs. Ball State fearless prediction and game preview.
NC State vs. Ball State Broadcast
Date: Saturday, September 21
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Network: ESPNU
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
NC State (2-1) vs. Ball State (1-2) Game Preview
Why Ball State Will Win
Don’t blow off the Cardinals because of the 1-2 record and the loss to Florida Atlantic last week. This team has the passing game and ability to ball out against okay secondaries.
Junior QB Drew Plitt has stepped in and has been magnificent. hitting 71% of his passes for over 1,000 yards with 11 touchdowns and just three picks. NC State got hit through the air by East Carolina and last week against West Virginia. All of a sudden, the defense that looked so strong over the first two weeks is a bit suspect.
Combine the Cardinal offense with the defense that takes the ball away – coming up with six turnovers so far – and the team is just dangerous enough to give the Pack problems if they’re looking ahead to Florida State. However …
Why NC State Will Win
The Ball State secondary is a disaster.
There’s absolutely no pressure whatsoever coming from the Cardinal defensive front with just three sacks so far, and it’s showing for a pass defense that’s allowing teams to connect on 66% of their throws – FAU was terrific last week – with six touchdown passes. It came up with four picks in the first two games, but got torched by the Owls last week.
This is the game Matthew McKay needs to tune up a bit. He’s been okay, but the Pack receivers have to start generating a whole lot more big plays down the field in who’s been a dink-and-dunk attack so far. The Cardinal corners will be tested right away. And …
– “Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released
What’s Going To Happen
Defensively, this is when the Pack get back on track.
The West Virginia offense carved up State last week in the 44-27 win. Ball State doesn’t have the same weapons, but that loss will focus up the Wolfpack defense in a big hurry. Plitt will come up with a decent day yardage-wise, but too many drives will stall. State will start to look more like the dominant version of the first two weeks.
– Get Tickets For This Game
NC State vs. Ball State Prediction, Line
NC State 41, Ball State 20
Bet on BSU vs. NC St with BetMGM, or for latest line
NC State -19.5, o/u: 58.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Must See Rating: 2
5: Ford v Ferrari
1: Dora and the Lost City of Gold
NEXT: Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 Ball State Football Schedule
2019 Record: 1-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2019 Preseason MAC Prediction: 3-5
2018 Record: 4-8
Aug. 31 Indiana (in Indy) L 34-24
Sept. 7 Fordham W 57-29
Sept. 14 Florida Atlantic L 41-31
Sept. 21 at NC State L
Sept. 28 OPEN DATE
Oct. 5 at Northern Illinois L
Oct. 12 at Eastern Michigan W
Oct. 19 Toledo L
Oct. 26 Ohio L
Nov. 5 at Western Michigan L
Nov. 9 OPEN DATE
Nov. 16 Central Michigan W
Nov. 23 at Kent State L
Nov. 29 Miami Univ. W
2019 NC State Football Schedule
2019 Record: 2-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2019 Preseason ACC Prediction: 4-4
2018 Record: 9-4
Aug. 31 East Carolina W 34-6
Sept. 7 Western Carolina W 41-0
Sept. 14 at West Virginia L 44-27
Sept. 21 Ball State W
Sept. 28 at Florida State L
Oct. 5 OPEN DATE
Oct. 10 Syracuse W
Oct. 19 at Boston College L
Oct. 26 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 at Wake Forest W
Nov. 9 Clemson L
Nov. 16 Louisville W
Nov. 21 at Georgia Tech L
Nov. 30 North Carolina W
