Wake Forest vs. NC State: Prediction and preview
Wake Forest vs. NC State is a top-25 showdown this week.
Both programs held on to their top-25 rankings for Week 10 despite relatively poor showings in Week 9.
Wake Forest got blown out by Louisville thanks to a staggering six-turnover performance in the third quarter. NC State won its game vs. Virginia Tech last week, but the Wolfpack needed a miraculous comeback led by true freshman MJ Morris to get the job done.
The loser of this matchup will almost certainly fall out of the top 25 next week and could be looking at a lower-priority bowl this postseason.
Wake Forest vs. NC State preview
Wake Forest will be looking to bounce back from its nightmare outing against Louisville last week. It was an uncharacteristically bad showing from Sam Hartman, who has generally been one of the ACC’s best quarterbacks over the past two seasons.
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Even with Hartman’s three interceptions vs. Louisville, he’s still No. 2 in the ACC in passer efficiency rating this season. Wake Forest has one of the better receiving corps in the ACC, so the passing game will almost certainly be a focal point of Wake’s game plan vs. the Wolfpack.
However, NC State’s pass defense is a major strength. The Wolfpack have allowed a passer efficiency rating of just 110.90 so far this season — easily the best mark in the ACC. They’re one of three ACC teams who have allowed less than 10 touchdown passes this year and have the second-most interceptions with 11.
How NC State’s defense holds up against Wake Forest’s passing attack could determine the outcome of this game. However, the consistency of freshman quarterback MJ Morris will also be a major factor.
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Morris was excellent in his first shot at extended playing time last week against the Hokies. He threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns off the bench, but he also made multiple questionable decisions. That’s not unexpected for a young quarterback, but Wake Forest’s defense might be good enough to take advantage of those mistakes in a way that Virginia Tech’s defense was not.
Wake Forest vs. NC State prediction
Wake Forest is the road favorite in this matchup — a dangerous proposition after seeing Louisville’s pass rush wreck the Demon Deacons’ offensive line last week. It’s a tough assignment for a true freshman quarterback, but NC State’s roster is loaded at nearly every other position. Add in the fact that this game is in Raleigh, and it’s tough to pick against NC State.
Prediction: NC State 31, Wake Forest 28
