East Carolina @ North Carolina State preview
Wayne Day Family Field at Carter-Finley Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 16, 2010 ) North Carolina State 27, East Carolina 33
After a six-game losing streak in the ACC, North Carolina State hopes a return to non-conference play will change its luck when the Wolfpack host in-state rival East Carolina on Saturday. North Carolina State won three of its first four games - all against non-conference foes - but is winless since September and will be an underdog against the Pirates. East Carolina is after its first five-game winning streak since 1999 and has won six of its last seven contests.
The Pirates are facing their third ACC foe of the season, having lost 15-10 to Virginia Tech and clobbered North Carolina 55-31. "I understand what's going on in their campus and in their locker room and in their meetings right now," said Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren, who spent two seasons at Northern Illinois. "It's a chip-on-your-shoulder game for us and them." The teams have split the past eight meetings with the last two going to overtime, including a 33-27 East Carolina victory in the most recent matchup in 2010.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: East Carolina -6.5.
ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (8-2): The Pirates are trying to finish with a winning non-conference record for the first time since going 5-0 outside league play in 1999. The offense ranks eighth in the nation in passing (341.2) and 10th in scoring (41.5), with the prolific connection of quarterback Shane Carden (72.5 percent completion rate) and receiver Justin Hardy (8.7 catches per game) leading the way. The defense has been much improved this season and ranks 15th nationally in total defense (337.9), eighth against the run (101.4) and tied for fourth in sacks (32).
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (3-7): The Wolfpack haven't had much to get excited about in Doeren's first season in Raleigh, a campaign that began with only 11 returning starters and has been wrought with injuries. North Carolina State uses two quarterbacks, with Pete Thomas serving as a better passer and Brandon Mitchell representing a run threat, but neither has been terribly effective while combining for 15 interceptions and only five TD passes. The defense matches up well against East Carolina, as the Wolfpack are tough against the pass but give up 181.9 rushing yards per game.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Pirates rank tied for 14th nationally with 14 interceptions and have recorded at least one in nine straight games, including five in the past two contests.
2. N.C. State has been outscored 73-31 in the fourth quarter during its six-game skid.
3. East Carolina has lost 12 straight games when scoring 20 points or fewer.
PREDICTION: East Carolina 31, North Carolina State 24