{"id":15212,"date":"2023-08-31T00:30:23","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T05:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=15212"},"modified":"2023-08-31T00:30:23","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T05:30:23","slug":"nc-state-vs-uconn-predicting-whether-the-wolfpack-will-cover-the-14-5-point-spread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/nc-state-vs-uconn-predicting-whether-the-wolfpack-will-cover-the-14-5-point-spread\/","title":{"rendered":"NC State vs. UConn: Predicting whether the Wolfpack will cover the 14.5-point spread"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Week 1 kicks off this week, one of the more intriguing matchups takes place at Rentschler Field. That\u2019s where NC State<\/a><\/strong> will take on UConn<\/a><\/strong> as the Wolfpack unveil their new quarterback in Brennan Armstrong<\/a><\/strong>, who reunites with offensive coordinator Robert Anae<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Despite going on the road, NC State is a 14.5-point favorite at multiple sportsbooks, according to VegasInsider<\/em><\/a>. It\u2019s unusual \u2014 and, to some, it could be a trap.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways beware the home underdog on a Thursday night,\u201d On3\u2019s Andy Staples<\/a><\/strong> said on Andy Staples On3<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. \u201cHe can bite.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, though, the Wolfpack look like it could fight off the home underdog and wind up covering that spread. As On3\u2019s J.D. PicKell<\/strong> pointed out, the combination of Armstrong and Anae worked well together at Virginia<\/a><\/strong>. In their last year together in 2021, Armstrong threw for 4,449 yards and 31 touchdowns before Anae departed to join Dave Doeren\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> staff.<\/p>\n

That success is why PicKell is confident in the NC State offense with Armstrong at QB.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m taking NC State. I\u2019m gonna take them to win and to cover,\u201d PicKell said. \u201cI love the reuniting of Robert Anae, the OC at NC State, getting his quarterback back from Virginia, Brennan Armstrong. I think it\u2019s going to be fireworks like a bad eighth grader on the Fourth of July behind the middle school. I think that\u2019s the kind of situation we\u2019re looking at here. I think NC State with Brennan Armstrong \u2014 what he was at Virginia when they were together last, I mean, we were talking about him like maybe being a sneaky Heisman guy going into the 2022 season with what he did in that 2021 campaign. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo I think them getting back together, we always know Dave Doeren\u2019s gonna have a solid defense. It\u2019s just kind of been his trademark at NC State. I think they win this game, and I think they win [by] more than that 14.5-point margin.\u201d<\/p>\n

On defense, though, Payton Wilson<\/a><\/strong> is one of the biggest names returning for NC State. He\u2019s one of the leaders of that unit and had a big year last year with 82 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.<\/p>\n

While Jim Mora<\/a><\/strong> has done impressive things at UConn, Staples is also taking the Wolfpack to cover \u2014 and predicting some momentum heading into a key Week 2 game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got Payton Wilson back. They\u2019ve got a lot of really good players on that defense,\u201d Staples said. \u201cI love what Jim Mora did at UConn, I think he got them playing very hard, I think he\u2019s upgraded their talent. I know they\u2019re going to be excited for the showcase game. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat said, yeah, I\u2019m with you. NC State wins and covers. And then get ready for a matchup between Notre Dame<\/a><\/strong> and the Wolfpack in Raleigh and Week 2.\u201d<\/p>\n

PicKell agreed about the effects of a big win over UConn trickling over into the following week for NC State. In fact, he thinks that game will play a big role in deciding just how much hype will be around the Fighting Irish.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s gonna be a good one, man,\u201d PicKell said. \u201cEveryone\u2019s talking about Ohio State<\/a><\/strong>-Notre Dame. We find out a lot about Notre Dame when they go to NC State. I think it\u2019s a noon kick, too, Andy. Kind of sleepy, you\u2019re walking in there after playing Tennessee State. I\u2019m very excited for that one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post NC State vs. UConn: Predicting whether the Wolfpack will cover the 14.5-point spread<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As Week 1 kicks off this week, one of the more intriguing matchups takes place…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15212\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}