NC State vs North Carolina 11/26/21 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The NC State Wolfpack and North Carolina Tar Heels clash Friday night in week 13 ACC college football action at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. The North Carolina Tar Heels look for a win after splitting their last eight games. The NC State Wolfpack look for a win after winning seven of their last nine games.

The North Carolina Tar Heels have lost all three road games this season. Sam Howell is completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 2,704 yards, 22 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Josh Downs and Antoine Green have combined for 1,726 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, while Emery Simmons has 11 receptions. The North Carolina Tar Heels ground game is averaging 212.7 yards per contest, and Ty Chandler leads the way with 1,004 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, North Carolina is allowing 31.4 points and 412.4 yards per game. Cedric Gray leads the North Carolina Tar Heels with 74 tackles, Tomon Fox has 5.5 sacks and Cam’Ron Kelly has 4 interceptions.

The NC State Wolfpack have won all six home games this season. Devin Leary is completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,186 yards, 31 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Emeka Emezie and Devin Carter have combined for 1,246 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while Thayer Thomas has 47 receptions. The NC State Wolfpack ground game is averaging 127.8 yards per contest, and Zonovan Knight leads the way with 684 yards and 3 touchdowns. Defensively, NC State is allowing 18.7 points and 321.5 yards per game. Drake Thomas leads the NC State Wolfpack with 90 tackles, Vi Jones has 4.5 sacks and Tyler Baker-Williams has 2 interceptions.

The Tar Heels are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The Wolfpack are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall. The over is 5-2 in Tar Heels last 7 road games. The over is 4-1 in Wolfpack last 5 home games. The Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings in NC State and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.

The NC State Wolfpack should be favored at home, where they’ve played their best football, and they’ve been the more consistent team this season overall. The North Carolina Tar Heels have underachieved greatly this year due to a defense that struggles to get off the field. With all that said, this is a rivalry game, and for all the issues UNC has, that offense is still explosive. Also, the road team has won six of the last eight meetings between UNC and NC State. I’ll grab the free touchdown here.