First look: Top story lines, betting odds for NC State vs Louisville football game
There’s no need to press the panic button on N.C. State’s season yet.
Sure, things didn’t go their way in Miami, for a variety of reasons, but all is not lost on the season. The remedy for the Wolfpack might be some home cooking. N.C. State returns to Carter-Finley Stadium for the first time since Oct. 2 as they take on Louisville.
“Well it’ll be great to be home again,” head coach Dave Doeren said on Saturday after the Miami game. “It’s been a long time, about a month, so I look forward to playing at Carter-Finley next week for sure. I know it’s a night game but it’ll be nice to have another home game.
The Cardinals snapped a two-game losing streak over the weekend, knocking off Boston College, 28-14. Louisville has gone 2-1 in their last three trips to Raleigh.
NC State vs. Louisville game, TV info
Who: NC State (5-2, 2-1) vs. Louisville (4-3, 2-2)
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: ACCN
Vegas odds: NC State vs. Louisville point spread
N.C. State is an early seven-point favorite over Louisville.
Don’t let things snowball
N.C. State has to leave the Miami game in Miami. Coming off the one-point loss to the Hurricanes, the Wolfpack better get back to work immediately and look forward, not backwards. This is no time for a hangover. The margin for error is shrinking and another slip up can turn a once promising season into an avalanche in a hurry.
“We gotta pick these guys back up and get back to work and get ready for a game next week,” head coach Dave Doeren said after the Miami game. To win games like you’ve seen us do this year you gotta make plays in key moments and we didn’t.”
The good news is they quickly get a chance to right those wrongs. N.C. State showed they can bounce back after their first loss of the season. They put together a four game winning streak. Things were bad in Miami, but that one game can’t make things worse.
“They’ll understand what’s in front of them when we study it,” Doeren said. “But we just gotta get ready for the next game.”
What are the issues that need fixing?
This space is usually reserved for the opposing team, but there were too many issues on film for N.C. State to just move on.
Penalties, poor execution, dropped passes, inability to run, the list goes on. The Wolfpack couldn’t get off the field on third down (a repeat issue) and struggled to stop the long ball (also a repeat issue).
Heading to Raleigh this weekend is a dynamic Louisville offense that definitely watched the Miami film and will try to attack N.C. State the same way. It didn’t help that the Pack played without linebacker Isaiah Moore and his status for next week is unknown.
3 Louisville Cardinals to watch
Trevion Cooley, RB: Cooley, the Cardinals freshman running back, is coming off his first 100-yard game, finishing with 112 yards on 13 carries versus Boston College. Cooley is averaging 5.3 yards per carry for Louisville. Also, the former Knightdale High School star will be returning home for the first time and might be playing with extra motivation.
Malik Cunningham, QB: In recent years N.C. State has had problems with quarterbacks who can beat them with their arms and legs. Cunningham leads the Cardinals in rushing with 531 yards on the ground. He’s also rushed for 13 scores. Cunningham is coming off a three touchdown (all on the ground) performance last weekend.
Calen Chandler, OG: For the second straight game Chandler didn’t allow a sack. The Wolfpack has had issues getting sacks and Chandler won’t make that task any easier. He graded out at 90 percent last week.
3 NC State Wolfpack to watch
Devin Carter, WR: There will be a lot of eyes on Carter this weekend. The sophomore wide receiver has shown he can make the spectacular catches, but needs to be more consistent with the routine ones. After two drops against Miami, Carter needs a big bounce-back game.
Tanner Ingle, DB: Ingle has done an amazing job staying on the field this season (knocks on wood) and brings a different level of intensity to the defense. Now the veteran needs to make sure everyone in front of him is in the right spots. Against Miami there were too many plays when guys were looking at one another, confused, after a big play from the Hurricanes. That doesn’t all fall on Ingle, but the last line of defense needs to get his mates in the right position to make plays versus Louisville.
Tyler Baker-Williams, DB: Baker-Williams, the most versatile player in the secondary, usually covers slot receivers from his nickelback spot. With Cunningham a threat to run each snap, Baker-Williams will need to be an extra player in the box to spy the athletic quarterback.