The ACC meets the SEC in a neutral site non-conference match-up in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, September 2nd at 3:00 p.m. EST. The match-up between the NC State Wolfpack and the South Carolina Gamecocks can be seen on ESPN. As of this article, the Wolfpack are a -5 point favorite and the game’s total is 52.5.
Both teams will make a very short trip to the Bank of America Stadium to kick-off their 2017 season. Last year, NC State went 7-6 and capped off their campaign with a 41-17 romp over Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl.
South Carolina finished out 6-7 last season, ending the year with a 46-39 overtime loss to South Florida in the Birmingham Bowl. All totaled, the Gamecocks have a 25-24-3 advantage in the regular season series. That record includes a uneventful 7-3 victory on the road in 2009. Both schools enter into the 2017 season looking far better than they were last season, but with new expectations and pressures.
NC State Wolfpack
One way to describe the Wolfpack in 2016 was streaky. NC State started the season going 4-1 but then dropped five of their last six contests. Fortunately, they got a huge victory over rivals North Carolina that put them at .500 and into a bowl.
During their mid-season skid, the Wolfpack played three ranked teams. In those matches, they lost to Clemson in overtime and Florida State by four while getting destroyed by Louisville. The bottom line is that a 3-5 record in ACC play will not cut the mustard in 2017.
NC State threw for 260.5 yards per game last season. This season, they have their quarterback Ryan Finley back. In 2016, Finley completed 243 of 402 passes for 3,055 yards with 18 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. With some better protection, he could easily improve on those figures.
The situation isn’t so rosy at running back for NC State. Tail back Reggie Gallaspy II is the team’s leading returning rusher from last season. Throughout the 2017 season, he had 49 carries for 234 yards and two touchdowns. After him, there really is no proven back field mate for the Wolfpack to rely upon.
Opposite of the running game, the receiving department should be set. NC State gets back their three leading contributors from 2016. Jaylen Samuels led the team with 55 catches for 565 yards and seven touchdowns. Stephen Louis pitched in another 35 catches with a team high 678 yards and 2 scores. Lastly, Nyheim Hines reeled in 43 grabs for another 525 yards.
NC State was 27th in scoring defense last season as they allowed 22.8 points a game. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination. In all, eight starters return for the Wolfpack defense that should be able to keep the defense towards the top in the national rankings. In fact, the NC State defensive front will be among the best in the country, with the size inside to anchor the veteran defense.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks were unimpressive in their first six games of 2016. South Carolina went 2-4 and decided a change needed to be made. In stepped quarterback Jake Bentley and the Gamecocks went 4-2 and finished their year playing in a bowl game. Nevertheless, the offensive numbers remained stagnant. As a result, they scored 14 points or fewer seven times and also finished 116th in scoring offense with 20.8 points per game.
Signal-caller Jake Bentley is back and hoping to improve upon his 1,420 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. If that is going to occur, the South Carolina veteran O line needs to keep him upright. Last season, the unit allowed a disastrous 41 sacks and 102 tackles for loss.
South Carolina also gets back their leading runners from last year’s squad. Tail back Rico Dowdle led the Gamecocks with 133 carries for 764 yards and six scores as a freshman. Back field mate A.J. Turner, chipped in 116 carries for 497 yards and three more trips to the back of the end zone.
Using the passing game to open up the run, just might be what the doctor ordered for head coach Will Muschamp. Three of the Gamecocks top receivers return to help Jake Bentley build some confidence.
Wide out Deebo Samuel, led the team last season with 59 receptions for 783 yards plus a score. Tight end Hayden Hurst had 48 more receptions for 616 yards and a touchdown. To cap it off, South Carolina also gets back Bryan Edwards, who nabbed another 44 balls for 590 yards and four scores.
South Carolina finished 51st in the nation in scoring defense as they allowed 26.5 points a game. Consider this, that number was skewed by the team allowing 105 points in the final two games of the year. Pretty damn good. This year, the defense and style of play should keep the scores down once again. The question remains whether their offense can take advantage of that or not.
Prediction
Both of these universities have offenses that are taking the field with a full year of experience behind them. Both have their quarterbacks back and both have their running game returning. With that being said, both of these schools also have most of their defenses returning too. That’s where I’m suggesting laying your money.
If your going to put my feet to the fire on this total, I would suggest taking full advantage of that half point and ride the underdog Gamecocks to cover. But there is no fire and my feet are doing just fine. This will be a close game that is decided by the defense who can be the most opportunistic.
My play for the getmoresports.com readers is to bet on the under 52.5. I get that there is a lot of returning talent on the offensive side of the ball, but not enough for both of these teams to score in the high to mid 20’s. The country gets to see just how good the NC State D is when they handle business to the tune of 24-20 over the Gamecocks.
Trends
The Wolfpack are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 non-conference games.
The Wolfpack are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
S. CAROLINA is 2-1 against the spread versus NC STATE since 1992
S. CAROLINA is 2-1 straight up against NC STATE since 1992
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1992
The getmoresports.com NCAA College Football Throwdown Podcast will be returning to the air on August 24th. We will be highlighting the first five games on August 26th of the 2017 NCAA College Football season. That will be the first of three installments leading into the first week of the season. We also we will be covering our expectations for the Heisman Trophy front runners as well as predictions for conference winners and team totals.
Our second NCAA College Football Throwdown is penciled in for August 29th. In that installment, we will be discussing all the games that will be played on August 31st and the 1st of September.
Our third segment will officially be airing on August 31st. In this edition of the NCAA College Football Throwdown, we will be covering all the relevant games for Sept 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
