The North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Virginia Tech Hokies meet Saturday in college football action from Lane Stadium. NC State is fresh off a weekend matchup versus Wake Forest. In that one the Wolfpack moved to 7-3 with a 20-point victory. As for Virginia Tech, they played Boston College over the weekend. The 5-5 Hokies would go on to take a blowout victory. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack managed victories in six of their first nine games this year. A lot of their success came on defense, as the team averaged a lukewarm 24.7 points per game. The pass had some issues with just 187.8 yards per game, 12 TDs and 11 interceptions in that stretch. The rush wasn’t a whole lot better on 130.6 yards per game and 12 scores.
In their last game versus Wake Forest, NC State was up 21-0 going into the fourth quarter and cruised to the win 26-6. QB Brennan Armstrong finished with 111 yards and a TD while also leading the rush with 96 yards and another score. Dacari Collins led the receivers with 38 yards on two catches.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Over on the Hokies’ side, they were only able to win three of their first nine games despite scoring similarly to the Wolfpack. Virginia Tech averaged 23.6 points per game, with 202.0 yards per game, 13 scores and four interceptions via the pass. On the ground the Hokies averaged 152.0 yards per game and had nine touchdowns with 4.0 yards per attempt.
Back on Saturday against Boston College, the Hokies scored points in every quarter (and double-digit points in three of them) during a 48-22 blowout victory. QB Kyron Drones finished with 219 yards and two scores, also rushing for 135 yards. Bhayshul Tuten did most of the scoring however, posting 78 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries.
Matchup/League Facts
- NC State rank 24th among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (19.4).
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with Virginia Tech in this one. The Hokies had a great outing versus a pretty decent Boston College team over the weekend, totaling 600 yards (363 rushing), 24 first downs and 35:59 in time of possession. Defensively Virginia Tech stood tall with 262 yards allowed (138 passing), two picks and just 14 first downs allowed. It was a nice bounce-back game after a big loss to Louisville on November 4.
As for NC State, they leaned on the rush in their win over Wake Forest, posting 268 yards on the ground. The defense gave up just seven rush yards on the other side along with 19:44 in time of possession, eight first downs and 1-of-12 on third-down tries. Virginia Tech is going to have their hands full trying to crack that defense, but I think the Hokies can pull it off.