North Carolina State Football could be ACC sleeper in 2021

Schedule/predictions

North Carolina State has put together a solid run in the ACC but the Wolfpack haven’t made the championship game or reached the 10-win mark.

Could that happen this season? It’s certainly possible. The Wolfpack return a bunch of starters on both sides of the ball and with the addition of four transfers, the talent is there to be one of the better teams in the ACC, especially if Leary, a former four-star recruit, can shine at quarterback.

The schedule isn’t easy though and here’s our look at game-by-game predictions.

• Week 1: vs South Florida (W) — NC State opens the season with a comfortable win against the Bulls.
• Week 2: at Mississippi State (L) — Winning on the road against an SEC team would be huge for the Wolfpack, but the edge goes to the home team in a toss-up game.
• Week 3: vs Furman (W) — The Wolfpack will rebound with a big over an FCS opponent.
• Week 4: vs Clemson (L) — NC State can give the Tigers a run for their money but ultimately, the Wolfpack will fall short.
• Week 5: vs Lousiana Tech (W) — A 2-2 record is nothing to be ashamed of at this point and NC State wins in blowout fashion here.
• Week 6: at Boston College (W) — This is a critical game if the Wolfpack wants to get back to the nine-win mark and take a close one.
• Week 7: at Miami (L) — This should be a shootout but I don’t see the Wolfpack winning at the Orange Bowl.
• Week 8: vs Lousiville (W) — Another big game for the bowl pecking order. NC State is at home and pulls it out.
• Week 9: at Florida State (L) — Florida State hasn’t been great but if McKenzie Milton is back to himself, the Noles could start to rebound in 2021.
• Week 10: at Wake Forest (W) — Against another in-state team hoping to be a dark-horse this year in the ACC, NC State gets bowl eligible with a win.
• Week 11: vs Syracuse (W) — The Orange could be one of the worst teams in the ACC and the Wolfpack win this one.
• Week 12: vs North Carolina (W) — Crazy things happen during rivalry games and this win would make up for some earlier disappointment.

Record: 8-4 overall, 5-3 conference

NC State football fans are used to this type of season, but an upset win over North Carolina would certainly mean something and even without it, the Wolfpack will play in another bowl game.

It’s probably not where fans want the program to be, however, it could be much, much worse.