NC State or Wake Forest for the Atlantic? A first look at top stories, betting odds
The playoffs continue for N.C. State.
Wait, what?
That’s right, the Wolfpack football team is in playoff mode and has been for a few weeks. N.C. State still controls its own destiny to make it to Charlotte for the ACC title game. After losing to Miami a few weeks ago, the Pack has approached each contest like a single-elimination playoff game. The next round of the “playoffs” for the Wolfpack, starts this Saturday in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest, the top team in the league.
A win doesn’t lock up a trip to Charlotte, it just means they live to fight another round.
“Since we lost that game to Miami we’ve been approaching every game as a must-win game,” N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren said. “We have this game, the next game and the next game to be in Charlotte, as far as us controlling it. A lot of people are making this like THE game, but to me it’s not, it’s the next game of three. We have to go undefeated in November to control our destiny. That’s how we look at this.”
Saturday’s contest between the two teams will be the 115th meeting, but perhaps the biggest of them all. It’s the fifth time that N.C. State will be facing a ranked Wake Forest team. The Wolfpack is 2-1-1 in the previous four matchups. This is only the second time that both teams have been ranked.
Keep going 1-0
The N.C. State team has really bought into the mantra of going 1-0 each week. Doeren preaches it, the players repeat it. There is absolutely no reason the team should be looking past Wake Forest, knowing what’s at stake, but they also don’t need to get too high emotionally heading into this week.
“One day at a time,” safety Tanner Ingle said. “Coach always says, be where your feet (are).”
Ingle is coming off what Doeren called his best game in an N.C. State uniform. As one of the voices on the team, it’s refreshing to know that one of the leaders truly believes in that 1-0 approach. This time, though, the Wake Forest is the biggest game on the schedule and not because it’s the next game. It’s the game that will set the tone for November and put the Pack in the driver’s seat in the Atlantic Division.
Classic offense versus defense battle
N.C. State’s defense has been put to the test this season, but it’s safe to say they haven’t seen anything like Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons average 44.7 points per game and no team has managed to slow them down yet. Quarterback Sam Hartman has thrown for 27 touchdowns and Wake Forest has two of the top five receivers in the ACC. Both of their running backs average at least 5.0 yards per carry.
“It’s going to be a great challenge,” Doeren said. “I look forward to the opportunity for our guys and our staff to compete against theirs.”
3 Wake Forest Demon Deacons to watch
Sam Hartman, QB: Hartman is coming off a five-touchdown performance, the second time he’s thrown for five TDs in one game this season. Hartman has thrown for 1,912 yards and 18 touchdowns in the last five games. That’s a season worth of stats for some quarterbacks. Against UNC last week he not only threw five touchdowns, but rushed for two more.
“He does a nice job managing their offense,” Doeren said. “He’s a competitor, I have a lot of respect for Sam. He seems very poised watching him on the sidelines. I like the way he plays.”
A.T. Perry, WR: Perry has become a nice second option in the Wake Forest passing game. It’s not too bad when your No. 2 receiver has 845 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. Perry caught six passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns versus UNC last weekend. It was his fourth straight game with 100 yards or more receiving.
Jaquarii Roberson, WR: Roberson and Perry form the best one-two punch at the wide receiver position in the ACC. Roberson leads the team with 50 receptions for 848 yards. His eight touchdown receptions are second only to Perry’s 10.
3 NC State Wolfpack to watch
Shyheim Battle, CB: Battle’s name doesn’t get called a lot during games, and at the cornerback position, that’s usually a good thing. Battle has been in and out of the starting lineup this season, sharing time with Ayden White. When called upon, though, the sophomore from Rocky Mount has been solid, including an interception versus Louisville two weeks ago. He’ll need to have another solid performance versus the Wake Forest receiving duo of Perry and Roberson.
Derrek Pitts, CB: Same thing goes for Pitts as it does for Battle. Pitts will be tested this week on the boundary. A solid tackler, Pitts can sometimes be overly aggressive in coverage, which results in flags: see Boston College game. He’s always willing to come up and support the run, but he has to be aware of Roberson and Perry beating him over the top.
Trenton Gill, P: Punter Trenton Gill has been one of the most dangerous, and reliable weapons for N.C. State this season. If it takes the offense a while to warm up, the Pack can always count on Gill to pin teams deep in their own territory. Against FSU, four of his punts were downed inside the 10.
NC State vs Wake Forest game, TV info
Who: NC State (7-2, 4-1) vs. Wake Forest (8-1, 5-0)
Where:
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: ACCN
Vegas odds: NC State vs Wake Forest point spread
Wake Forest is an early 2.5 point favorite over N.C. State
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 2:18 PM.
