As expected, both teams won against FCS competition a week ago, but now the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers and No. 24 NC State Wolfpack will meet on the same field on Saturday in this SEC vs. ACC duel in the second week of college football in a battle of top-ranked conference and playoff contenders.
But the Wolf Pack did not play very forcefully against its first opponent and had to make up a 21:17 deficit in the fourth quarter against Western Carolina. Transfer running back Jordan Waters scored two crucial touchdowns and secured the 1:0 start.
Big Orange had no such problems and beat Chattanooga 69-3 thanks to young quarterback Nico Iamaleava and his 314 passing yards.
But while both teams have potentially explosive offenses with talented quarterbacks—Iamaleava for the Vols and the experienced Grayson McCall for the Wolfpack—it could ultimately be the defense that decides this matchup: NC State struggled to contain the running game in the opening game, while Tennessee has a strong front seven but a vulnerable secondary.
What can we look forward to in this matchup? Here’s what to look for when Tennessee and NC State meet in the big nonconference game of Week 2 of college football.
When: Saturday, September 7
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time
TV: ABC Network
Lines provided courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Tennessee: -9.5 (-112)
NC State: +9.5 (-108)
Vols win: -350
Wolf Pack Victory: +275
Over 60.5 points: -106
Below 60.5 points: -114
FPI Tips: Tennessee wins with 88.1%
1. McCall vs. Vols pass rush. Jayden Daniels broke Grayson McCall’s single-season record for best pass efficiency last season, but the Wolfpack’s new quarterback was only successful on 26 of his 40 attempts in the opening game, missed some throws and generally failed to build much momentum.
Now McCall faces one of the best front sevens in the country, a strong pass-rushing rotation led by defensive end James Pearce Jr., who recorded 10 sacks last year, combined with considerable depth on the interior that could force McCall out of the pocket early and critically block the Wolfpack’s running lanes.
2. Grind and crush. Tennessee’s air attack gets all the attention, but Dylan Sampson led a yardage effort in the opening game that went over 300 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry, and he’s very adept at finding daylight by running behind one of the strongest defensive units in the country.
That could spell trouble for NC State, which lost its best defensive player in linebacker Payton Wilson to the NFL and allowed the Catamounts to gain 120 yards on just 19 attempts at 6.3 yards per carry last week.
Early success on the ground would significantly turn the tide in the Vols’ favor, as their excellent receivers would play in single coverage against NC State’s good cornerbacks, especially given the team’s recent first-quarter success when they outscored their opponents 465 to 169 in the opening game under head coach Josh Heupel.
3. NC State goes far. McCall has plenty of talent to work with at receiver, a unit led by KC Concepcion, who caught nine passes for 121 yards last week, a presence the offense desperately needed given its other struggles.
If the Volunteers have a weakness, it might be in the secondary after the unit went through some notable turnovers in the offseason. McCall and Concepcion can create space at the back, an important equalizer in a matchup where UT appears to have the edge on both lines of scrimmage.
Tennessee, despite its powerful air attack and top-notch pass-receiving options, won’t get everything it wants because NC State is relatively strong in pass coverage and deeper in perimeter defense.
But the Vols will successfully run the ball, dominate both offensive lines and break through the Wolfpack’s midfield defense with a series of intermediate passes from Iamaleava.
College Football HQ’s selection…
The game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.
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