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On Thursday, the Virginia Tech Hokies (2-5) will clash with the (#24) North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-2) in a standalone ACC matchup. The reeling Hokies have lost four straight, most recently falling short of the Miami Hurricanes 20-14. Miami entered the fourth quarter up 20-0 and ultimately held on despite two late touchdowns from VT QB Grant Wells.
Meanwhile, the Wolfpack are two weeks removed from their last game, a 24-9 road loss at Syracuse. NC State's offense was lackluster, settling for three field goals without four-year starting quarterback Devin Leary in the second half. Charleston Southern grad transfer QB Jack Chambers stood in for his absence, going 18-of-30 for 160 yards in his first career start donning the red and white. North Carolina State has won the last five meetings over Virginia Tech, including a 45-24 drumming of the Hokies in 2020.
Virginia Tech Hokies vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Betting Odds
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Tale of the Tape
The Virginia Tech Hokies are in the middle of a rebuild with new head coach and former Penn State DC Brent Pry. The Hokies are in danger, with a current winning percentage of .286, of having one of their worst seasons since they were a part of the Big East in 1992. The inability to string together explosive plays has doomed VT in the early going, ranking dead last in the ACC at average yards per play.
Pry acquired Marshall Thunder Herd transfer Grant Wells to run the offense, but the quarterback is posting similarly pedestrian numbers as he did in C-USA. The Hokies rank in the bottom third of the ACC in passing completion, passing yards per game, and total passing touchdowns. The Virginia Tech ground game is equally lackluster, ranking only behind 2-5 Boston College in rushing yards per attempt and rushing yards per game.
The Hokies' defense has been a glimmer of hope for first-year head coach Brent Pry, and by a glimmer of hope, meaning they aren't in the bottom third of the ACC in most defensive categories. Virginia Tech has been formidable against the pass, ranking third in touchdowns allowed through the air. They have held priced ACC QBs Tyler Van Dyke and Kedon Slovis to a combined two passing touchdowns in the last few weeks. The central defensive issue stems from the front seven. The Hokies allow a near ACC-worst 1.6 rushing touchdowns per game, inflated by Pittsburgh's Israel Abanikanda and his 320-yard-six touchdown performance in Week 6.
The North Carolina State Wolfpack are one of three ACC teams ranked in the preseason top 25 and the current rendition of the AP standings. They have made their money on defense, ranking within the top five of the ACC in touchdowns allowed, yards per play against, and turnovers forced. The Wolfpack are top of the conference in interceptions. Leading the way is CB Aydan White with an ACC best three picks. NC State is 14th in the country in points allowed at 16.9 per game.
Offensively, the Wolfpack have struggled and should continue to be mediocre with the services of star QB Devin Leary gone for the year. For now, quarterback Jack Chambers, the successor to Leary, will bring a running element to the Wolfpack offense. In five and a half quarters, the Charleston Southern transfer has 26 rushed for 97 yards while completing 54.5% of his passes.
Virginia Tech Hokies vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Prediction
North Carolina State shouldn't replicate its offensive production with star QB Devin Leary out for the season. Leary was the main cog in an efficient Wolfpack offense that has struggled for a limited time with backup Jack Chambers as the primary signal caller. NC State will need to rely on its elite defense to win games, starting with Thursday's matchup against an inept VT offense. With both teams dependent on stops and short fields, expect a low-scoring affair between the two ACC teams.
Prediction: Under 39.5 (-112)
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