2015-16 Football Previews – (ACC) – Wolfpack
Head coach Dave Doeren had a strong second season in Raleigh including a bowl win. Still NC State is far from becoming a football factory in the ACC, or even getting back to the level where they were putting a scare into the elite programs in the league like Florida State with regularity.
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ACC – NC State Wolfpack
Head Coach: Dave Doeren
2014 Record: 8-5
Odds to win ACC: +1600
Win Total: 7.5
Only once in their very long history has this program won double digit games. That was in 2002 when they finished 11-3 under Chuck Amato.
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They have not even finished a season ranked anywhere in the AP Top 25 since 2010.
This season looks like a lot of Wolfpack seasons over the last decade. The schedule is such that they should probably qualify for a bowl game but I don’t see them bagging any big opponents or making any real noise.
They have scheduled really light early so we won’t have any real sense of what this team really is until their first league game when they host Louisville. Home games the last couple of weeks will determine whether they are part of Capital One Bowl Week or closer to the festival around New Year’s Day.
Strengths
It is hard to believe given their struggles at QB that the Florida Gators didn’t like what they saw from Jacoby Brissett a few year’s back.
The Gators’ loss was the Wolfpack’s gain because since coming to Raleigh he has been critical to the team’s success with his ability to hang in there to make a throw and move the ball on the ground. As a senior I expect he can even add a little more polish to his game, which is raw at times.
The Wolfpack backfield seems set as RB Shadrach Thornton continues to improve. He is a bull back there and should have his first 1000 yard season as a senior.
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On defense continuity on the backend (five returning starters) should help makeup for an inexperienced front. Lots to build on here.
Weaknesses
Brissett is a big strong guy but they need to do a better job protecting him.
Last year he was sacked a lot and this season NC State is breaking in new tackles which has to be a concern, for both the running game and passing game.
On the defensive side of the ball they are hoping that they can find somebody that can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks so the secondary can start making more plays.
If this team can not win their fair share of wars in the trenches it is going to be hard to advance to that next level in the ACC.
Prediction: 7-5
NC State should emerge from September 4-0. It will be a bit hollow record thought when you look at who they will have played and I suggest you don’t get caught up the good feelings it will generate.
Once they get into conference play things will crank up a notch and I am looking to fade the Wolfpack in their opener hosting Louisville, I worry they might not be ready after who they have played.
If they want to show any growth as a program they have to play well on the road. Winning at Virginia Tech and FSU is unlikely but they could and probably should beat Wake Forest and Boston College. BC is really key because it is ahead of FSU, if it was the reverse that would be terrible.
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All in all they should win a bunch of games and make a bowl. Brissett will provide a few nice highlights but they are not going to shock the world this season.
Schedule:
September 5 – Troy
September 12 – Eastern Kentucky
September 19 – @ Old Dominion
September 26 – @ South Alabama
October 3 – Louisville
October 9 – @ Virginia Tech
October 24 – @ Wake Forest
October 31 – Clemson
November 7 – @ Boston College
November 14 – @ Florida State
November 21 – Syracuse
November 28 – North Carolina
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