NC State Keys to Victory vs #9 Clemson

RALIEGH NC – ACC conference play officially begins on Saturday afternoon for the NC State Wolfpack (2-1) as they get ready to host #9 ranked Clemson (2-1). The Pack is fresh off a productive performance a week ago versus Furman, but it will be a more formidable challenge when they go head to head against a powerhouse team like the Tigers. 

Carter-Finley stadium will be booming as usual, and they will hope to see their team remain undefeated when defending their home turf. It will mark the 8th matchup between coach Dave Doeren and Dabo Swinney. Doeren and his team will be looking for better results after dropping their previous matchup to the Tigers 55-10 in 2019.

3 Keys to Victory & Score Prediction 

Win the turnover battle: With two offenses yet to perform in big games, the Pack defense needs to force QB DJ Uiagalelei to make bad decisions and force at least 1-2 turnovers. The Pack offense will need as many chances and extra opportunities to put up points against one of the best defenses in the nation in Clemson. It should be a low-scoring affair, and whatever defensive unit provides their team extra chances to score points should be the one to come out of this contest victorious.

Win the game in the trenches: Most games are won in the trenches, and both squads showcase above-average offensive lines and running games. Will Shipley of Clemson is starting to show why he was a five-star recruit coming in as a true freshman. He has tallied at least 80 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns in each of the last two games and is due for a breakout performance. This does not bode too well for the Pack. However, Zonovan Knight was back to form, putting up over 100 yards on the ground for the second time of the season in week 3. Taking the pressure off Leary should be the plan, and whoever can run and block more efficiently should have the most success on the afternoon. 

Create more explosive plays:  Big-time plays are always game changers, whether that consists of special teams touchdowns, defensive turnovers, or even 50+ yard gains on offense. The Pack possesses positional players that can break out at any time, and explosive plays are what they will need to make a statement against an opponent like Clemson.

Game prediction: NC State will surprisingly compete in the early stages of the game and show fight, but the firepower of Clemson will be too difficult to hold off. Shipley will have a massive day on the ground for the Tigers, leading to a Pack loss by a score of 27-10.