FSU vs. NC State Betting: Whose ACC title hopes will be extinguished under the lights in Raleigh?

It remains to be seen if Clemson is on the same level as Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State, but the last couple of weeks have shown that the ACC, at least the Atlantic Division, looks likely to run through the Tigers once again, despite Florida State, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest’s best efforts.

Next weekend, FSU will get its crack at Clemson at Doak Campbell Stadium. But it’s a game that won’t matter much for division title purposes if the Seminoles fall tonight in Raleigh against the Wolfpack.

Last week, both FSU and NC State lost for the first time this season. The Seminoles fell at home to Wake Forest, who was coming off of an overtime loss at home to Clemson, who followed up the win in Winston-Salem with a 30-20 win over NC State at home.

Even if the home team continues its recent dominance in this rivalry tonight, they will need some unlikely help to overtake the Tigers. But if FSU’s resurgent season can continue with a big win in Raleigh, the ‘Noles will go into next week’s game in full control of their destiny.

Florida State vs. NC State Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Florida State Seminoles (4-1, 2-1 ACC, 3rd in the ACC Atlantic Division) vs. #14 North Carolina State Wolfpack (4-1, 0-1 ACC, 6th in the ACC Atlantic Division)
• Venue & Location: Wayne Day Family Field at Carter-Finley Stadium (Raleigh, North Carolina)
• Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
• Game Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
• How to Watch FSU vs. NC State: ACC Network

Florida State vs. NC State Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites may also appear in this article.

Spread

• Florida State +3.5 (-115)
• NC State -3.5 (-105)

Over/Under

• Over 50.5 (-112)
• Under 50.5 (-108)

Moneyline

• Florida State +140
• NC State -170

Will Leary and the Wolfpack Finally Play at Their Best Level?

Last week’s game at Clemson was a chance for NC State to prove that they are one of the best teams in the country. Win or lose, they could have made a statement against the conference’s standard bearer.

It was a 13-10 game at halftime, but the Tigers dominated in the second half, and the only thing notable about a Wolfpack touchdown in the final minute was that it helped cash the over.

NC State QB Devin Leary got a lot of preseason love as one of the best signal-callers in the country after throwing for over 3400 yards and 35 touchdowns last season.

But he has not backed up that hype in NC State’s toughest games thus far this season.

Against Clemson, he was just 28 of 47 for 245 yards and one touchdown, and he threw a costly pick when the Wolfpack, then down 20-13, faced a third-and-short near midfield late in the third quarter.

Leary only has three picks this season, but he is averaging only 6.6 yards per attempt. Also, he is completing just 62.8 percent of his passes. Last season, he completed 65.7 percent of his passes and averaged 8.0 yards per attempt. Florida State, meanwhile, is allowing only six yards per attempt.

NC State also managed only 34 rushing yards on 21 attempts against Clemson. FSU’s defense allowed Wake’s Justice Ellison to run for a career-high 114 yards on only 18 carries, so that is an area to try to exploit.

But as long as Leary is underperforming, there’s only so much to expect from the Wolfpack on offense.

Is FSU’s Resurgence Still on Track Despite Wake Setback?

The “Florida State is back” train slowed a bit against the Demon Deacons, who made the most of the openings they were given. They also made the plays they didn’t make on both sides of the ball in key moments against Clemson.

But there’s still a lot to like about where this team is headed.

FSU QB Jordan Travis’s growth as a passer continues, and he was 23 of 35 for 281 yards and three touchdowns against Wake.

But the game turned on a second-quarter fumble by Travis, giving the ball right back to the Demon Deacons in plus territory moments after they had taken a 14-7 lead.

Wake made the most of the short field, then after three Travis completions helped FSU move deep in Wake territory later in the quarter, the pass was inexplicably abandoned. After the drive stalled, kicker Ryan Fitzgerald then missed a short field goal to send FSU into the half down 21-7.

The other key point occurred after the Seminoles made it a 28-21 game with 9:32 left in the game. They failed to get a stop on Wake’s next drive until they had used their timeouts and were left with 2:55 to overcome a 10-point deficit.

Those are all valuable moments to learn from for a team still learning how to win. They also indicate that there wasn’t a ton separating the ‘Noles from being on the right side of the scoreline.

If they can take those lessons from last week, there are positives they can ride to a win in Raleigh.

Their offense has a lot of weapons on the ground and through the air, and their defense, which sacked Hartman four times and held him to a season low in yards per attempt (6.9), can give Leary a hard time.

Florida State vs. NC State Prediction and Betting Picks

Florida State vs. NC State Prediction: FSU to win

Florida State vs. NC State Picks: FSU to cover (Best Value: +3.5 @ -110 at Bovada Sportsbook & BetMGM) & FSU team total over (Best Value: over 23.5 @ -113 at BetOnline)

Raleigh hasn’t always been a fun place for FSU to play, and the Wolfpack enter this matchup with four wins in the last five meetings in this rivalry.

But this reads as a bit of a bad matchup for NC State. Despite last week’s loss, FSU doesn’t really have much reason to have drop in confidence ahead of a very, very winnable game.

Nor do the Seminoles have anything to lose, based on preseason expectations. That’s not the case for the Wolfpack, who are looking for just the second 10-win season in program history and were expected to make a serious run for at least a New Year’s Six bowl this season.

The ‘Noles can get to Leary, and they have the weapons on offense to trouble the Pack defensively.

Just like Wake made the plays against FSU that they didn’t make against Clemson, I expect FSU to make the plays against NC State that they didn’t against Wake and set up the most important Clemson-Florida State matchup in years.

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