North Carolina State vs. West Virginia fearless prediction and game preview.
NC State vs. West Virginia Broadcast
Date: Saturday, September 14
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, WV
Network: FS1
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
NC State (2-0) vs. West Virginia (1-1) Game Preview
Why NC State Will Win
West Virginia’s offense doesn’t have it, at least not yet.
It had a rough start in the close-call win over James Madison, and it was shut down cold in the 38-7 loss to Missouri.
QB Austin Kendall was supposed to come in from Oklahoma and be a decent fill-in for Will Grier, but the passing game hasn’t worked yet, and the ground attack has been even worse.
This NC State defense isn’t one to get healthy against.
The Wolfpack haven’t played anyone yet, but they’ve only allowed three points so far with a pass rush that should dominate the Mountaineer offensive line. Mizzou lived behind the WVU line last week, and State should spend most of Saturday afternoon knocking Kendall around.
Again, the schedule hasn’t been tough, but the State offense is working, too.
Why West Virginia Will Win
So is anything going right so far under new head coach Neal Brown?
It might not be as good as NC State’s, but the pass rush and the push into the backfield is working so far. The defense hasn’t been too bad – the offense has been the issue early on – and didn’t allow a slew of big plays through the air.
Offensively, eventually this will work. Brown is too good a head coach for the O to stay this bad, and the players are in place to start producing.
Kendall has the talent and upside to start pushing the ball deeper, the receiving corps is good enough to start doing a whole lot more, and no, Dana Holgorsen didn’t leave the cupboard bare.
– “Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released
What’s Going To Happen
Will being at home matter for the Mountaineers? It’ll make a wee bit of a difference, but it won’t be enough.
This is a very good, very sound NC State team with a defense that’s the real deal. This might just be the ACC’s second-best team, but it hasn’t proved it yet against a brand-name program. Even so, West Virginia’s offense won’t do enough against a Wolfpack defensive front that will own the game for a full four quarters.
– Get Tickets For This Game
NC State vs. West Virginia Prediction, Line
NC State 30, West Virginia 17
Line: NC State -6.5, o/u: 47.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Must See Rating: 2.5
5: Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching
1: Bluff City Law
NEXT: Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 NC State Football Schedule
2019 Record: 2-0
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
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
2019 West Virginia Football Schedule
2019 Record: 1-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2019 Preseason Big 12 Prediction: 4-5
2018 Record: 8-4
Aug. 31 James Madison W 20-13
Sept. 7 at Missouri L 38-7
Sept. 14 NC State W
Sept. 21 at Kansas W
Sept. 28 OPEN DATE
Oct. 5 Texas L
Oct. 12 Iowa State W
Oct. 19 at Oklahoma L
Oct. 26 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 at Baylor L
Nov. 9 Texas Tech W
Nov. 16 at Kansas State L
Nov. 23 Oklahoma State W
Nov. 29 at TCU L
