Trust the Process:

I’ll be using a standard format across all Chop’s Takes:

1. I’ll take a look at the returning production (keeping in mind the evaluation of talent applicable to each ACC Program) and compare to each team they face on their schedule.
2. I’ll look at the opponent faced the week before, that game’s final score, and days passed before the current game being evaluated.
3. I’ll take a look at the opponent the ACC team faces after the present game, considering look-ahead games and rivalries, and days separating that game from the present.
4. I’ll weigh advantages of home versus away games for each game.
5. Where possible, I’ll take into consideration potential weather considerations (not Hurricanes or other natural disasters but rather seasonal conditions).

North Carolina State’s 2018 Football Schedule:

James Madison (September 1st, 2018 noon EST at home)

Previous Game: N/A

Following Game: Norfolk State (September 8th, 2018 6:00 P.M. EST Away)

Television: ESPNU

Prediction: NC State WIN

I’ll keep this brief: ACC teams SHOULD win their FCS match-ups. North Carolina State is at home against a vastly inferior opponent. North Carolina State should win this. Next.

Georgia State (September 8th, 2018 12:30 P.M. EST at home)

Previous Game: Kennesaw State (August 30th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Memphis (September 14th, 2018 away)

Television: RSN/ACC Network Extra

Prediction: NC State WIN

NC State is off to a great start this season with a second win in a row. Georgia State, while FBS, doesn’t boast near the talent level that NC State will. The game being at home is a plus for NC State. This is a gimme game to open into the meat of their schedule. I do not anticipate NC State running into any issues here.

West Virginia (September 14th, 2018 3:30 P.M. EST at home)

Previous Game: Youngstown State (September 8th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Kansas State (September 22nd, 2018 at home)

Television: ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU

Prediction: NC State WIN

This game is one of the toughest on NC State’s schedule. This pick was also tricky, and in my opinion, a gutsy one at that. I believe NC State will be viewed as the underdog at home against West Virginia. WVU is the dark-horse contender in the BXII, and will likely enter this game undefeated alongside NC State. By the numbers, WVU has a slight edge over NC State (with comparable talent). So why did I pick NC State to win? Carter-Finley Stadium, and it’s ferocious home crowd. As a Seminole, I can speak to the intensity the NC State fan base brings to top-tier home games. This stadium, in Seminole perception, is often referred to as a “House of Horrors” for our program. Likewise, Clemson fans have a similar perception when playing at NC State. Playing as the underdog, at home, against this fan base and at that stadium is exactly what this NC State team needs to propel themselves to an elite performance against any team in the country. In my humble opinion, I think West Virginia will crumble beneath the spotlight and fall to Wolfpack.

Marshall (September 22nd, 2018 away)

Previous Game: South Carolina (September 15th, 2018 away)

Following Game: Western Kentucky (September 29th, 2018 away

Prediction: NC State WIN

This is a deceptively tough game, especially played away. Marshall doesn’t have the same caliber athlete as NC State. However, their team looks to return veterans on both sides of the ball. NC State is thin with returning starters on defense. This game is a potential shoot-out and one that NC State is perfectly capable of losing. However, I don’t see it happening this season. NC State is on the rise as a national brand, and cannot afford to lose away games to Group of Five programs such as Marshall. The players know this, and will earn a deceptively tough road game here.

University of Virginia (September 29th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Louisville (September 22nd, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Miami (October 13th, 2018 at home)

Prediction: NC State WIN

NC State is now on a roll with a five game win streak. The University of Virginia simply doesn’t boast the returning talent or talent level as NC State has currently, despite the holes on defense. At home, NC State will defend their turf against a struggling UVA program.

Boston College (October 6th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Temple (September 29th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Louisville (October 13th, 2018 at home)

Prediction: NC State LOSS

So what’s happened here? Boston College is playing NC State at home. NC State has beaten better (perceptually) teams at this point. Why this seemingly inexplicable loss? I expect Boston College to field a deceptively talented team in 2018. Deceptively so that NC State, riding high, will be perceived as the unanimous favorite in this match-up. The crowd won’t be as much a contributing factor here. I think Boston College will catch NC State off-guard, and with weaknesses exposed on defense, will be unable to strike a comeback win against the Eagles. Boston College will hold their own.

Clemson (October 20th, 2018 away)

Rivalry

Previous Game: Wake Forest (October 6th, 2018 away)

Following Game: Florida State (October 27th, 2018 away)

Prediction: NC State LOSS

Interesting scenario. This would, seemingly, be a trap game for Clemson. Both return from BYE weekends. NC State will want revenge after their loss to Boston College. Clemson will be looking-ahead to Florida State. This is Clemson’s homecoming game, one that Clemson will be heavily favored to win. Why the loss? A number of reasons. I think Dabo is an excellent coach who boasts superior talent and formidable veterans on both sides of the ball. I think Death Valley is one of the premier destinations in College Football, where teams go to die. I think the top five caliber defense that Clemson will have can halt the dynamic NC State offense. I believe, simultaneously, that the offense Clemson has can damage significantly the defensive weaknesses NC State has. In short, I think this game will turn ugly, and quick.

Syracuse (October 27th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: UNC (October 20th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Wake Forest (November 3rd away)

Prediction: NC State LOSS

The Wolfpack will be hungry for a win, however it’ll have to wait. This game will be a shootout, however Syracuse has now developed a reputation for being strong home competitors in the ACC. The deciding factor: the look-ahead game NC State has versus the Florida State Seminoles. While the match-up itself would normally prompt me to predict an NC State win in a shoot-out, I think the anticipation of a home game against the Noles will play against NC State here. And yet…

Florida State University (November 3rd, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Clemson (October 27th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Notre Dame (November 10th, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. EST away on NBC)

Prediction: NC State WIN

Whoever constructed the Seminole’s schedule this season did them no favors, considering this was to be an off-season for the program (let alone directed by new head coach Willie Taggart). Seminole Nation, cool your heads! I get it, we’re in the Taggart era now, but let’s face reality: 2018 will NOT be our season. Yes, we have the talent to take-down NC State at NC State. Yes, we will likely be looking for a win after a home loss to Clemson. But here’s where things stand: Taggart has to change the culture at Florida State. That’ll take a couple years at least. Most of the team’s makeup currently contains Jimbo Fisher’s recruits. Taggart is building a new offensive (and defensive) mentality and culture at Florida State. While our team is perfectly capable of adapting to these changes, and swiftly, there are simply some games that we won’t overcome this season. Historically, NC State’s Carter Finley Stadium has NOT been a friendly stadium for our team to find wins (we really should have lost this game in 2016). NC State will also be coming off of a three loss streak. FSU will probably be favored. As noted earlier: NC State THRIVES under the conditions our team will find itself in. Speaking to NC State fandom, NC State and FSU will have a similar make-up this season, and while FSU boasts more talent, NC State will have the historical home-field advantage and will fight aggressively for a win here, on homecoming. Additionally, I believe FSU will have a look-ahead game versus Notre Dame, which will also play a factor here.

Wake Forest (November 8th, 2018 7:30 P.M. EST Thursday Night at home)

Rivalry

Previous Game: Syracuse (November 3rd, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Pittsburgh (November 17th, 2018 at home)

Television: ESPN

Prediction: NC State WIN

A Thursday night home game against a rival on prime time television? Despite Wake Forest also boasting a deceivingly talented roster this season, how can I NOT predict a Wolfpack win here? Seriously, the returning talent at Wake Forest will keep this game competitive, and being a rivalry, this game might normally sway in Wake’s favor. However I like the superior talent at NC State more, the home game crowd at night on a Thursday should be rowdy. The rivalry should make the game competitive. The spotlight will be too-large for Wake Forest to compete through all four quarters. NC State will pull-away in the fourth.

Louisville (November 17th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Syracuse (November 9th, 2018 7:00 P.M. EST Friday Night away on ESPN2)

Following Game: Kentucky (November 24th, 2018 rivalry at home)

Prediction: NC State LOSS

Louisville might have a rivalry to look ahead towards, however the veteran consistency of both programs is similar (with comparable talent at both teams). The difference maker: Louisville will be looking to play spoiler for other teams as they won’t be participating in post-season play. Louisville is playing for pride. NC State is playing for a bowl slot, as they’ll be outside contention for the division title at this stage.

University of North Carolina (November 24th, 2018 away)

Rivalry

Previous Game: Western Carolina (November 17th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: N/A

Prediction: NC State LOSS

What a dismal way to end the season, unfortunately, for the Wolfpack. However, I expect UNC to be a surprise team in the Coastal this season. This rivalry is being played at Chapel Hill, and with the talent UNC will field on both sides of the ball, I believe NC State will be winded and, again, playing for a bowl allotment having already been knocked from contention in the Atlantic. UNC meanwhile, would remain a dark horse contender (having beaten Miami in my prediction) with the potential of a Miami loss that day. This should be sufficient for UNC to give their all.

My Predicted 2018 Regular Season Record for NC State : 7-5 (3-5 ACC)

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