Will NC State football run the table in 2022? Our game-by-game prediction
With 17 starters returning from a nine-win 2021 season, including quarterback and Heisman hopeful Devin Leary, No. 13 NC State is a frontrunner to advance to its first ACC championship game as coach Dave Doeren enters his 10th season with the program.
The USA TODAY Network South Region has broken down every game in the Wolfpack's 2022 schedule and offered final score predictions and analysis.
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Week 1 at ECU
ECU's 2021 record: 7-5 (5-3 AAC)
Series record: 18-13 (NC State)
Last matchup: 34-6 NC State (2019)
Kickoff: Friday, noon
The buzz: Many questions will be answered in NC State's Week 1 game against ECU, namely, how does this team handle a hostile environment? The 50,000-seat Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium will be at full capacity as the Pack makes the hour-and-a-half drive to Greenville to face a Pirates program that won seven games under coach Mike Houston in 2021. ECU is 2-0 at home against NC State since 2010, including a 33-30 win in 2016.
The pick: NC State wins, 31-17
Week 2 vs. Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern's 2021 record: 4-6 (3-3 Big South)
Series record: 0-0
Kickoff: Sept. 10, 12:30 p.m.
The buzz: NC State's home opener at Carter-Finley Stadium should be a fun experience for fans seeing the Wolfpack in person for the first time this season. Charleston Southern is a middle-of-the-road Big South program that won't have the talent or the size to stay competitive against NC State.
The pick: NC State wins, 45-7
Week 3 vs. Texas Tech
Texas Tech's 2021 record: 7-6 (3-6 Big 12)
Series record: 4-1 NC State
Last matchup: 49-21 NC State (2003)
Kickoff: Sept. 17, 7 p.m.
The buzz: The Red Raiders are known for throwing the ball down the field and scoring points in bunches, which should give the Wolfpack secondary a considerable early-season challenge. Texas Tech ended last season with an impressive win over Mississippi State — which defeated the Wolfpack earlier that year — in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl before parting ways with coach Sonny Cumbie. First-year coach Joey McGuire has named his starting quarterback, Tyler Shough, and will be searching for a big win before opening Big 12 play the next week against Texas.
The pick: Texas Tech, 42-35
Week 4 vs. UConn
UConn's 2021 record: 1-11
Series record: 2-0 (NC State)
Last matchup: 10-7 NC State (2012)
Kickoff: Sept. 24, TBD
The buzz: If the Wolfpack are upset by Texas Tech, they'll enter the final nonconference game with plenty of charged anger. That won't bode well for UConn. The Huskies are in the midst of 10 straight losing seasons and a 1-10 record in 2021. UConn had the second-worst offense statistically last season and will have its hands full against a retooled NC State defense.
The pick: NC State wins, 38-13
Week 5 at Clemson
Clemson's 2021 record: 10-3 (6-2 ACC)
Series record: 59-29-1 (NC State)
Last matchup: 27-21 NC State (2021)
Kickoff: Oct. 1, TBD
The buzz: Despite current appearances, Clemson is still the team to beat in the Atlantic Division. Yes, NC State's 27-21 double-overtime home win over the Tigers was incredibly impressive last year, but beating Clemson in Death Valley is an entirely different story. The Tigers own the nation's longest active home winning streak with 34 straight victories, but If the Wolfpack can end that streak, they will not only be considered a favorite to win the ACC but a contender to make the College Football Playoff.
The pick: NC State wins, 28-27
Week 6 vs. Florida State
Florida State's 2021 record: 5-7 (4-4 ACC)
Series record: 27-15 (Florida State)
Last matchup: 28-14 NC State (2021)
Kickoff: Oct. 8, TBD
The buzz: This may not be a Florida State team of old, but the Seminoles finished the 2021 season on a strong note, winning five of their last seven games including three wins over bowl-eligible teams. Dual-threat quarterback Jordan Travis emerged as the starter late in the season and should be even better in 2022 as coach Mike Norvell enters his third season with FSU.
The pick: NC State wins, 31-21
Week 7 at Syracuse
Syracuse's 2021 record: 5-7 (2-6 ACC)
Series record: 13-2 (NC State)
Last matchup: 41-17 NC State (2021)
Kickoff: Oct. 15, TBD
The buzz: The Orange is predicted to finish last in the Atlantic Division but may not be an easy win for NC State, especially playing on the road. Syracuse returns 17 starters from last year's team, including running back Sean Tucker and quarterback Garrett Shrader. NC State has won three straight and seven of the last eight against Syracuse, falling 51-41 in 2018 at the Carrier Dome and squeaking out a 36-29 road win in 2020.
The pick: NC State wins, 35-17
Week 9 vs. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech's 2021 record: 6-7 (4-4 ACC)
Series record: 18-28-4 (Virginia Tech)
Last matchup: 45-24 Virginia Tech (2020)
Kickoff: Oct. 27 (Thursday), 7:30 p.m.
The buzz: Something about a night game against Virginia Tech on a Thursday before Halloween just feels spooky, especially coming off a bye week. NC State has lost five straight games to the Hokies since 2005 but has its best chance to end that streak this year.
The pick: NC State wins, 35-21
Week 10 vs. Wake Forest
Wake's 2021 record: 11-3 (7-1 ACC)
Series record: 67-42-6 (NC State)
Last matchup: 45-42 Wake Forest (2021)
Kickoff: Nov. 5, TBD
The buzz: Last year's 45-42 road loss to Wake Forest kept NC State out of the ACC title game and the Wolfpack will be looking for revenge when the Deamon Deacons make the trip to Carter-Finley Stadium. That will be easier said than done against a Wake Forest team that returns quarterback Sam Hartman and starting experience at almost every position.
The pick: Wake Forest wins, 38-35
Week 11 vs. Boston College
Boston College's 2021 record: 6-6 (2-6 ACC)
Series record: 10-8 (Boston College)
Last matchup: 33-7 NC State (2021)
Kickoff: Nov. 12, TBD
The buzz: Quarterback Phil Jurkovec and star wide receiver Zay Flowers return for a Boston College program that started 4-0 last year before finishing 2-6 in its last eight games, including a 33-7 home loss to the Wolfpack. BC starting running back Pat Garwo III rushed for 1,000 yards as a redshirt sophomore.
The pick: NC State wins, 42-21
Week 12 at Louisville
Louisville's 2021 record: 6-7 (4-4 ACC)
Series record: 7-4 (Louisville)
Last matchup: 28-13 NC State (2021)
Kickoff: Nov. 19, TBD
The buzz: Quarterback Malik Cunningham passed for 219 yards and ran for 89 yards in last year's loss to NC State but also threw for four touchdowns in a 2019 win over the Wolfpack. Slowing down Cunningham at home will be a tough task for the Wolfpack defense.
The pick: NC State wins, 28-21
Week 13 at North Carolina
UNC's 2021 record: 6-7 (3-5 ACC)
Series record: 68-37-6 (UNC)
Last matchup: 34-30 NC State (2021)
Kickoff: Nov. 25 (Friday), TBD
The buzz: Not much needs to be said about the significance of this rivalry game, especially after last year's dramatic 34-30 comeback win by the Wolfpack. This regular-season finale for both teams could make or break NC State's chances at an ACC title game appearance and facing UNC at Kenan Memorial Stadium will make things that much tougher.
The pick: NC State wins, 31-24
Regular season record: 10-2
David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA Today Network covering NC State and Duke athletics. He can be reached at dthompson1@gannett.com, at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Will NC State football run the table in 2022? Here's our prediction
