NC vs. NC State: Expert Prediction & Preview for ACC Finale

ACC Football Showdown: North Carolina Tar Heels vs NC State Wolfpack

In the ACC Week 13 college football matchup, the North Carolina Tar Heels will face off against the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday, November 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Wolfpack has emerged victorious in the last two encounters against the Tar Heels.

Recent Performances: Tar Heels and Wolfpack

The Tar Heels, with a season record of 8-3 and 4-3 in the ACC, managed a thrilling overtime victory against Duke. However, they stumbled against Clemson in Week 12, losing 31-20. Quarterback Drake Maye, and running back Omarion Hampton had noteworthy performances, but the Tar Heels defense struggled against the Tigers’ ground game — a recurring issue in their three losses this season.

On the other side, the Wolfpack (8-3, 5-2 ACC) is riding a four-game winning streak, including an impressive win against Clemson. Their latest victory was a 35-28 win over Virginia Tech, where quarterback Brennan Armstrong had a stellar performance.

Key Game Details and Predictions

There are several essential factors to consider for this matchup. Let’s take a closer look at these and make a pick for the game.

SP+ Rankings

North Carolina: 18 overall, 9 offense, 64 defense
NC State: 42 overall, 75 offense, 22 defense

Injury update

North Carolina

RB George Pettaway – Questionable (undisclosed)

NC State

RB Michael Allen – Questionable (undisclosed)
RB Demarcus Jones II – Questionable (undisclosed)

ATS/Total

Against The Spread in 2023

North Carolina: 6-5 ATS
NC State: 6-5 ATS

Total in 2023

North Carolina: Over 5-5-1
NC State: Over 3-8

Odds at DraftKings Sportsbook

Spread: UNC -2.5
Total: 55
Moneyline: UNC -130, NC State +110

Weather

According to Accuweather, the game day forecast predicts 35 degrees, partly cloudy, with winds at 6 MPH NE.

Our Best Bet for North Carolina vs. NC State

NC State +2.5

The Wolfpack has been consistently dominant in this rivalry over recent years. While UNC had a better start to the season than NC State, the momentum has since shifted. Considering NC State’s resiliency against formidable opponents and the advantage of home field, we pick the Wolfpack to cover in this matchup.