East Carolina vs NC State Prediction and Betting Odds | Sept 3
East Carolina vs NC State Betting Preview
There are high hopes surrounding the NC State program this season, but the Wolfpack will have to navigate a tricky opener against a feisty in-state opponent on Saturday. WagerTalk college football handicapper Kevin Dolan breaks down the Week 1 battle between East Carolina and North Carolina State.
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| Saturday, September 3 | College Football Week 1 Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | NC State Wolfpack -11.5 at East Carolina Pirates |
| Total: | o/u 52 Points |
| Location: | Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina |
| Game Time: | 12:00pm ET / 9:00am PT (Odds Above Courtesy of DraftKings) |
| TV: | ESPN |
East Carolina vs NC State Analysis
The NC State Wolfpack kick-off their 2022 college football season with a trip to nearby Greenville to take on the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday.
The Wolfpack finished with a 9-3 overall record last year and put together some solid wins against Wake Forest and Clemson, but did falter on the road going just 2-3 away from home last season.
East Carolina, meanwhile, finished with a 7-5 record overall in 2021, including a 4-2 mark in Greenville.
The two teams have a fairly split record historically, with NC State owning the edge via an 18-13 H2H advantage. However, the Wolfpack have blown the doors off the Pirates in the last two meetings via a 92-9 aggregate scoreline.
Experience A Huge Factor For NC State
Seventeen starters return to the fold for NC State ahead of this season with ten on defense and seven on offense in what is without question one of the most experienced rosters the Wolfpack have ever returned in a single season. NC State is bringing back the nation’s sixth most-experienced offensive line this season as well.
Pirates Looking To Continue Passing Success
East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers will return for his fifth season with the Pirates and looks to build on a passing offense that ranked 22nd in the nation last season in total passing yards per game.
East Carolina put up an average of 274.0 yards per game last season through the air (22nd), but increased that even more over their final three games of the season to 316.7 yards per game (12th), and will be looking for more of the same to kick off this season on Saturday.
East Carolina vs NC State Prediction
We have to go with NC State laying 11.5 in this one, especially with the wealth of experience they bring back to the fold in 2022.
On top of that, NC State QB Devin Leary continues to get it done for the Wolfpack, leading the ACC in TD throws versus conference opponents last season, and he broke the school record for total number of touchdowns thrown last season also, previously held by Philip Rivers.
We’re taking NC State -11.5 to win and cover against East Carolina on Saturday in the 12:00 pm ET kick-off at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina this weekend.
Bet On It | College Football Week 1 Predictions
The barking dogs, sandwiches, and teasers will return for the NFL next week, but first, the Bet On It crew gets warmed up with some college football picks for this weekend’s marquee matchups. Join Kelly, Marco, Joe and Ralph every Wednesday for Bet On It as we break down the college football slate from a variety of betting angles.
College Football Odds Board
WagerTalk’s Live Odds Screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the college football point spreads, totals and betting percentages for all of the NCAAF Week 1 games, including this East Carolina vs NC State showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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Meet the Author
‘The sharpest sports mind in Ireland’ is how one prominent newspaper dubbed Kevin Dolan after he became the first foreigner ever to win the World Series of Handicapping tournament back in 2015. “The Irishman” made his start wagering on GAA, football, soccer and boxing, all to immense success. Since becoming a professional bettor, he has since lit up the sports betting scene in the U.S. and abroad, winning two handicapping awards and writing a best-selling book on sports handicapping named ‘The Complete Guide to Sports Betting’.
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