Keeping It Heel
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2018 UNC Football Early Opponent Preview: N.C. State

By Brandon Griffin

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 25: Nick McCloud #21 and Dexter Wright #14 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack break up a pass intended for Anthony Ratliff-Williams #17 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Carter Finley Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina. North Carolina State won 33-21. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 25: Nick McCloud #21 and Dexter Wright #14 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack break up a pass intended for Anthony Ratliff-Williams #17 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Carter Finley Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina. North Carolina State won 33-21. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Keeping It Heel takes a look at each of the UNC football opponents in reverse order. This week we take a look at NC State, which will be the season finale for the Tar Heels

Three seasons ago I read an interview from Georgia Coach Kirby Smart.

Smart said it was something they did at Alabama and I still feel if it was good enough for Nick Saban, it is good enough for Keeping it Heel as well.

So for the third-straight season, we are going to look at each of the North Carolina football opponents in reverse order and since there are only 12 weeks left until the start of the college football season, now is the perfect time to begin.

So with 12 games on the Tar Heels schedule, let’s get with the team UNC has finished the season against now for the past four seasons.

Last season, North Carolina entered the finale riding a two-game win streak. Meanwhile, NC State was looking vulnerable having lost three of their last four including a six-point road loss to Wake Forest.

It might seem based on that, UNC would win easily. However, the two teams weren’t even close as the Wolfpack were 7-4 entering that game, the Tar Heels a porous 3-8.

State won by 12 and went on to win a second-straight bowl game. UNC meanwhile failed to play in a bowl game for the first time since 2012.

With the game returning to Chapel Hill, will the home team be able to end this current two-game losing streak?

Head Coach: Dave Doeren. Career record of 57-34 (34-30 at NC State). This will be his sixth season at NC State, which is his second head coaching stop. Doeren once led Northern Illinois to a 12-1 record and an Orange Bowl bid before leaving for NC State.

Last season was Doeren’s best season at NC State. He has taken the team to four-straight bowl games and won three of them.

Best Former Player: Philip Rivers, seven-time Pro Bowler, has thrown for 50,348 yards (ninth all-time) and 342 touchdowns (tied for sixth all-time), has 110 career wins (tied for 13th all-time) and holds four NFL records and 42 San Diego Chargers records.

Second Best Former Player: WR Torry Holt, seven-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion, career 920 receptions for 13,382 yards (16th all-time) and 74 touchdowns. He also holds seven NFL records.

Last Season: Went 9-4 (6-2 in ACC play). Finished second in the Atlantic Division. Season highlights include winning six-straight games, including wins over ranked Florida State and Louisville teams, and ranking as high as 14th nationally.

They followed that up losing three of their next four with their only win in that span a three-point victory over Boston College.

State finished the season winning their last two games by a combined score 85-52, which included the 12-point win over the Tar Heels in Raleigh and their second straight bowl win in their victory over Arizona State in the Sun Bowl.

This Season: Nine of their opponents finished last season with a winning record and all of those nine made a bowl game.

Until last season, NC State had struggled under Doren against Power Five teams with a winning record going 3-23. In 2017, the Wolfpack went 5-3 against teams with a winning record.

State had a great season last year and did a lot better than I expected (I thought they would go 5-7). However, they did lose seven players to the NFL draft, including their top two rushers and entire defensive line.

NC State would seem to have a tougher schedule but will be playing a much lighter non conference schedule compared to last season. A fall to 7-5 seems likely, but would be decent considering what the team lost.

RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 25: Ryan Finley #15 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack throws against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Carter Finley Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 25: Ryan Finley #15 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack throws against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Carter Finley Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Best Current Player: QB Ryan Finley. Last season, Finley threw for 3200 yards while completing 64 percent of his passes for 16 touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 63 times last year for 195 yards and another three scores.

Against UNC Finley had a great game throwing for over 200 yards. He did have an interception against the Tar Heels but also rushed for two of his three rushing touchdowns in that contest.

Finley will be looked upon to carry the load for the Wolfpack this season after the losses of Nyheim Hines and Jalen Samuels.

He does return leading receiver Kelvin Harmon though in what could be a big passing year for the senior who is currently Mel Kiper’s third best senior passer entering this season.

Match-up: Saturday, November 24th in Chapel Hill.

Prediction: This will be my fourth-straight season picking this game. I am 1-2. I have picked UNC to win each of the past three season, including last season when I guessed they would win by 3 on the road. Will I make it a fourth?

Final score: NC State 24, UNC 21.

I hate picking the Wolfpack to ever win a game, especially one in Chapel Hill, but I cant let my heart sway me from the truth, NC State was the better team last season and despite the losses has the fewer question marks this season.

The Tar Heels do have a chance if they figure out their quarterback situation early and avoid the injury bug, but until then I have to pick the team in red this time around.

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