The North Carolina State Wolfpack (-6) are set to pay a visit to their conference nemesis North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for this game is set for 12:20 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action on CHSS.
North Carolina State Wolfpack at North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview
In this Saturday Atlantic Coast matchup, North Carolina State is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 6 points. The Wolfpack are also receiving -240 moneyline odds while the Tar Heels are +190. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 65 points. If North Carolina State falls down early, it’ll likely create a worthwhile live betting opportunity.
The early action has swayed to the Heels, as the line opened at 7. The game’s total hasn’t changed after it was set initially at 65.
The Wolfpack have lost 11.8 units so far and are 5-5 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-5. The Tar Heels have lost 14.1 units this season. The team is 4-5-1 ATS and the over’s hit in seven of its games.
The Wolfpack have gone 7-3 straight up (SU), including 4-3 SU against ACC opponents. The Tar Heels are 2-8 SU overall and 1-6 SU in conference play.
The Pack are coming off a resounding 52-10 victory over Louisville last weekTheir defense allowed the Cardinals to rush for 254 yards on 38 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Malik Cunningham had a productive day for the Cardinals in that one with 100 rushing yards and a score on 14 attempts. On the offense, the Wolfpack completed 31-of-42 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Finley went 26-for-36 for 316 yards and four touchdowns while Matthew McKay completed five-of-six for 38 yards. Ricky Person (just 44 rushing yards on 14 attempts) and Reggie Gallaspy (73 yards on 11 carries, two TDs) spearheaded the ground attack while Emeka Emezie (seven receptions, 72 yards, one TD) and Kelvin Harmon (seven catches, 100 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
North Carolina enters this Saturday’s matchup having just earned a 49-26 win over Western Carolina. The team’s defense allowed the Catamounts to pass for 300 yards while rushing for 133 yards and two scores. Donnavan Spencer was a bright spot in the defeat for Western Carolina, recording 106 yards and a score on three catches. For North Carolina, Nathan Elliott completed 18-of-24 passes for 308 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Javonte Williams (93 yards on 17 rush attempts, three TDs) and Jordon Brown (79 yards on 13 carries, one TD) handled the running game while Anthony Ratliff-Williams (four receptions, 84 yards) and Brown (three catches, 30 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
When looking at offensive play-calling, each squad sports a similar run-pass ratio on the season. North Carolina State has run the ball on 48.0 percent of its offensive possessions while North Carolina has an overall rush percentage of 49.5. The Wolfpack have rushed for 128 yards/game (including 137 per game against Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 18 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Heels are putting up 197 rushing yards per game (193 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.
The Pack offensive scheme has averaged 331 yards in the air overall (314 per game against conference opposition) and has 21 passing TDs so far. The Heels have produced 246 pass yards per contest (247.9 in the ACC) and have 13 total pass scores.
Defensively, North Carolina State has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 113 yards and throw for 291 yards per game. The North Carolina defense has allowed 231.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 220.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Heels are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.31 to opposing QBs, while the Wolfpack have allowed a 7.04 ANY/A.
Offensively, Finley has already put up 2,806 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 224-of-328 attempts with 20 passing scores and only six interceptions. He’s got a sparkling 8.71 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.11 over the last two outings.
Look for Finley to attack all areas of the North Carolina secondary. Kelvin Harmon (433 receiving yards and six touchdowns), Jakobi Meyers (637 yards, three TDs) and Emeka Emezie (433 yards, four TDs) have all been heavily involved recently.
For the home team, Nathan Elliott has connected on 174-of-284 passes for 1,948 yards, 10 TDs and nine INTs. Elliott’s ANY/A stands at 5.92 for the year and 7.68 across his last two outings.
Michael Carter, Anthony Ratliff-Williams and Dazz Newsome have combined for 542 total yards and three touchdowns as a trio over the last two games.
When these two programs faced each other last year, North Carolina State emerged victorious by a final score of 33-21.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: North Carolina State Wolfpack at North Carolina Tar Heels
SU Winner – North Carolina State, ATS Winner – North Carolina State, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The O/U for North Carolina State’s last game was 66.5. The under cashed in the team’s 52-10 win over Louisville.
North Carolina State has produced 3.5 yards per carry across its past three games and 3.3 over its last two.
North Carolina has averaged 6.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 7.0 over its past two.
The North Carolina offense has lost nine fumbles this season while North Carolina State has let five get away.
Over its last three contests, North Carolina State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for North Carolina’s last match was set at 81.5. The under cashed in the team’s 49-26 triumph over Western Carolina.
Over its last three matches, North Carolina is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Wolfpack offense has recorded seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Tar Heels have accounted for nine such plays.
Both teams have allowed nine pass plays of 40 or more yards. The North Carolina State defense has given up 21 pass plays of 30+ yards while North Carolina has given up 17 such plays.
The North Carolina State offense has created eight rushing plays of 20+ yards, while North Carolina has created 21 such runs.
The Wolfpack defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Tar Heels have given up 25 such runs.
The North Carolina State defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 32 times this season. North Carolina has produced 30 sacks.
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