North Carolina State @ East Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2008 ) East Carolina 24, North Carolina State 30

Pardon the interruption for two teams in pursuit of their own conference championships. But this state rivalry matters. Maybe more so to East Carolina, the lower profile program that relishes its frequent spoiler role against an ACC neighbor. But North Carolina State doesn't want to lose its momentum and the national notice that earned the Wolfpack votes in the latest coaches' poll. N.C. State holds a 16-10 edge in the series and won the last meeting 30-24 in overtime in 2008.

It ought to be an aerial show. Riding the arm of Russell Wilson, N.C. State (5-1, 2-1 ACC) ranks first in the ACC in passing (311.0 yards per game) and total offense (448.8). East Carolina (3-2, 3-0 Conference USA) is 13th nationally in passing yardage (297.2 per game) out of new coach Ruffin McNeill's spread offense. Both teams are scoring about 38 points a game.

The Wolfpack, surprise contenders in the ACC's Atlantic Division, are looking for their first winning season under fourth-year coach Tom O'Brien.

Last Saturday, N.C. State routed Boston College 44-17, bouncing back from a fourth-quarter collapse in a 41-30 loss to Virginia Tech. Wilson was ACC co-player of the week on offense, and Brandon Bishop was named defensive player of the week after getting two interceptions.

In tying Philip Rivers' N.C. State single-game record for completions (38 of 51, 328 yards, three TDs, two interceptions), Wilson continued to spread the ball around, connecting with 10 different receivers. But otherwise the attack was one-dimensional. N.C. State gained 347 yards passing and just 75 rushing, with 45 of that coming on Wilson's 14 carries. In six games, he has thrown for 1,802 yards, 17 touchdowns (to 10 different receivers) and six interceptions. Owen Spencer leads the team with 28 catches and 426 yards.

One key for the Wolfpack will be the continuing development of freshmen running backs Dean Hayes (4.1 yards a carry) and Mustafa Greene, who has a 5.0 average and team-high 344 total yards.

N.C. State's prolific air game will be going against a defense that ranks 110th against the pass and 114th in total defense (457.6 yards per game).

But the offense under 27-year-old coordinator Lincoln Riley is on a school-record pace in most categories. Quarterback Dominique Davis ranks third in the nation in completions per game at 27.2, and the former Boston College starter is 11th in total offense.

Dwayne Harris, a preseason all-conference selection, ranks sixth in receptions per game with 8.0 and is ECU's all-time leading receiver with 2,225 yards.

Seeking its third straight C-USA title and a fourth straight bowl bid, East Carolina beat Southern Mississippi 44-43 last Saturday after trailing 20-0 in the first quarter. The Pirates overcame four turnovers.

East Carolina, which went 9-5 last year, has lost to ACC teams Virginia Tech and North Carolina in 2010.

The Pirates have been perfect in the red zone, scoring 14 touchdowns and four field goals in 18 trips.