NC State vs Virginia Prediction Football Picks Today 8/29/26

In this article, we will formulate a NC State vs Virginia Prediction for this College Football Week 0 matchup on Saturday, August 29^th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this College Football matchup.

Virginia Cavaliers Preview

Virginia finished last season with an 11-3 overall record, 7-1 conference record and were placed 2nd place of the ACC. They had a 6-1 home record and a 4-1 road record and were 9-5 against the spread and 5-9 in over/under.

Offensively, the Cavaliers scored 30.8 points per game last season, which ranked 38th in the nation. Defensively, they allowed 19.6 points per game, which ranked 22nd in the nation. Virginia averaged 417.9 total yards per game last season, with 178.7 average rushing yards and 239.1 average passing yards per game. They allowed 309.5 total yards per game, 113.9 of them rushing and 195.6 passing yards per game.  Sports Reference

Chandler Morris led the Cavaliers with 282/436 completed passes and 3,000 total passing yards, throwing 16 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. J’Mari Taylor led the team in rushing yards, with 1,062, adding a team-high 14 touchdowns, while Trell Harris had a team-high 59 caught passes for a team-high 847 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, Devin Neal had a team-high 88 total tackles, 40 of them solo, while Daniel Rickert led the Cavaliers in sacks, with 6.5.

NC State Wolfpack Preview

NC State finished last season with an 8-5 overall record, 4-4 conference record and were placed 8th place of the ACC. They had a 6-1 home record and a 1-4 road record and were 7-6 against the spread and 7-6 in over/under.

Offensively the Wolfpack scored 30.2 points per game last season, which ranked 45th in the nation. Defensively, they allowed 27.2 points per game, which ranked 83rd in the nation. NC State averaged 391.2 total yards per game last season, with 145.5 average rushing yards and 245.7 average passing yards per game. They allowed 411.9 total yards per game, 138.8 of them rushing and 273.2 passing yards per game.

CJ Bailey led the Wolfpack with 273/397 completed passes and 3,105 total passing yards, throwing 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Jayden Scott led the team in rushing yards, with 581, adding a team-high 4 touchdowns, while Terrell Anderson had a team-high 39 caught passes for a team-high 629 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, Caden Fordham had a team-high 143 total tackles, 61 of them solo, while Tra Thomas led the Wolfpack in sacks, with 4.

NC State Wolfpack @ Virginia Cavaliers Betting Trends: Week 1

Why the Virginia Cavaliers will win

• Virginia has won each of its last eight home openers as a favorite.
• NC State has lost each of its last four road games.
• Virginia has covered the spread in seven of its last eight home openers.
• NC State has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four road games.
• Virginia has won the first quarter in each of its last four games against conference opponents at Scott Stadium.
• NC State has lost the first half in seven of its last eight road games against conference opponents.

Why the NC State Wolfpack will win

• NC State has won each of its last eight season openers.
• Virginia has lost three of its last four games as a favorite against teams from North Carolina.
• Virginia has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last eight games as a favorite against teams from North Carolina.
• The underdog has covered the spread in eight of Virginia’s last 10 games.
• The underdog has won the first quarter in four of the last five games between NC State and Virginia.
• NC State has won the first half in four of its last five games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of NC State’s last six road games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone OVER the total points line.
• Eight of Virginia’s last nine games have gone UNDER the total points line.

Virginia Cavaliers Player Prop Facts

• Jacquon Gibson had the most targets without a receiving touchdown last season (105).

NC State Wolfpack Player Prop Facts

• Harvey Dyson III ranked 1st in the American Conference for sacks (8.0) last season.

Matchup/League Facts

• Virginia played in the highest number of games that went to overtime last season (4).
• Virginia ranked 11th among FBS teams for 3rd down conversion percentage last season (49.8).
• NC State ranked 132nd among FBS teams for passing yards allowed per game last season (273.2).
• NC State ranked T11th among FBS teams for Q1 points per game last season (8.8).

NC State vs Virginia Prediction

NC State is 6-1 in its last 7 meetings against Virginia, having won its last three meetings on the road. Under is 4-2 in their last 6 meetings.

In this NC State vs Virginia Prediction, Virginia is coming as -5.5 home favorites. Virginia was the better team last season and was almost perfect at home with a 6-1 record, while NC State was terrible on the road with a 1-4 road record. Virginia was better both on the offensive and the defensive end and had a +11.2-point differential and is a top-35 projected team for this season, while NC State is 10+ places lower. Take Virginia to win and cover this one at home.