NC State Football 2015 +ESPN Addendum

It's getting close to football practice season. Just 6 more weeks till September and the actual start of college football.

So, it's also time for my usual over optimistic look at NC State's potential season.

I don't sit around and read all the sports websites. But I do check them out when it's of interest to me - that is - NC State.

I've found that Athlon Sports seems to have the most reasonable and well reasoned reporting and assessment of teams.

So - using Athlon's 2015 pre-season rankings - here's how the season should unfold for NC State.

#118 Troy at #39 NCSU - Win

FCS Eastern Kentucky at #39 NCSU - Win

Eastern Kentucky is a strong FCS team but not strong enough.

#39 NCSU at #113 Old Dominion - Win

Thinking about driving up to Norfolk for this game. ODU takes their football very seriously. They sell out their games. I've been watching StubHub and NCSU @ ODU tickets all seem to be above the $100 mark. If I go, I guess I'll be setting with the Wolfpack Club in the corner end zone for $39. Come to think of it, at home games I sit in the corner end zone - so there.

#39 NCSU at #108 South Alabama - Win

#38 Louisville at #39 NCSU - Loss (very possible Win)

Figuring out Louisville is next to impossible. They lost a bunch of kids (10+) to the NFL. They recruit well. Some predict they will have a down, rebuilding year. Others think they'll reload. Coach Petrino wins 10+ games every year. I think they will be much better than #38 and will win this game. But - this is also one of two games that NCSU could realistically have an 'upset' win.

#39 NCSU at #35 Virginia Tech - Loss (very possible Win)

This is the other game that NCSU has a real chance to 'upset' win. Will the big time VT defense show up? Or will it be another disappointing middle of the road VT team? Hard to win at Lane Stadium. Frank Beamer should have retired when he was at the top of his game. Kind of like a second tier Bobby Bowden, VT will have to usher him out the door. Time to play some golf Frank.

#39 NCSU at #82 Wake Forest - Win

Tom O'Brien is gone. The days of WTF losses to Wake Forest are gone too. The last two times I drove over to Winston Salem, the much higher favored NC State lost. Won't happen this year.

#14 Clemson at #39 NCSU - Loss

Clemson is better than #14. In fact, they will be better than FSU. QB Deshaun Watson is a legit Heisman candidate. In fact, he may be really . . really . . good. Clemson has a chance to go undefeated and to squeak into the National Championship playoff.

#39 NCSU at #56 Boston College - Win

Again, Tom O'Brien is gone. Coach Doeren doesn't put up with WTF losses. Why is Boston College in the ACC anyway?

#39 NCSU at #9 FSU - Loss

FSU is overrated at #9. But they're still going to win this game.

#85 Syracuse at #39 NCSU - Win

And why is Syracuse in the ACC? Only for their basketball program. And that's not going to last too much longer.

#42 UNCHeats at #39 NCSU - Win (possible Loss)

Carolina is always on the verge of fielding a big time football team. It just hasn't happened - since Mack Brown. New Defensive Coordinator Chizik will turn things around for Carolina's awful defense.

The rivalry between NCSU and UNCHeats has turned into downright hatred over the massive cheating and academic fraud over there. Mainly because UNCHeats has always had a 'holier than thou' sense of entitlement. Coach Doeren and our State guys 'get it'. State wins. Hopefully we beat the snot out of them like last year.

There have been a couple of articles wherein UNCheats Coach Fedora and players say they had attitude and team chemistry problems last year. I wonder if Carolina will have that  Everybody Look at Me I'm So Cool Idiotvisor Supervisor of Morale again?

I agree with Athlon's numbers. State should go 8 - 4. With the opportunity to pick up a couple of 'upset' wins (over Louisville and VT) to have a spectacular 10 - 2 season.

Or, the season could unfold as expected with an 'upset' loss to UNC and go 7 - 5.

Another typical NCSU preseason. Who knows what kind of team we'll have?

But, Tom O'Brien is gone along with his annual inexplicable loss - or two. Coach Doeren will have us steadily improving year to year.

However - once you get to 8 and 4 - those last four wins are very hard to get. Annual 9+ / 10+ win seasons are an incredible achievement.

8 and 4 would be fantastic. Better than that and Coach Doeren gets a parade down Fayetteville Street and a lifetime contract.

Of course, while NC State is getting better year by year - we're a LONG way from this -

2012 Alabama

All 11 Offensive Starters are in the NFL

ESPN Addendum

ESPN has published their preseason college football rankings. Assuming, as above, the higher ranked team wins - Preseason ranked #42 NC State still goes 8 and 4. But there are some significant differences.

The 4 cupcake teams are the same - so far down in the rankings - not worth bothering with.

Here's the ACC teams NC State plays and their ESPN Preseason ranking.

Loss to Clemson #19

Under-ranked. I think Clemson is a top 10 team.

Loss to #21 Florida State

I agree that FSU is behind Clemson.

Loss to #26 Virginia Tech

Playing at VT - difficult to win. ESPN drinks the kool aid that VT is returning to it's power self of years past. I think ESPN has VT over ranked. This is a possible (long shot) opportunity for an NCSU upset win.

Loss to #35 UNCheats

Any improvement in UNC's defense will lead to a much better season. But I think by the end of the season - both State and UNCheats will both be good teams. State's team is younger - but I think coaching and home filed advantage will give State the win.

Win over #44 Louisville.

At #42 State - this should be a toss up. Slight home field advantage. Louisville is hard to predict this year due to heavy starter graduation and early loss of kids to the NFL.

Wins over #75  Wake Forest, #77 Syracuse and #84 Boston College.

Basically, the difference between Athlon and ESPN is flipping Louisville for UNCheats.

With good coaching and preparation, sound game day play calling and solid smart play by our kids - we're an 8 and 4 team.

IF, and it's a big IF, State wins over both Louisville and UNCheats - it's a fantastic 9 and 3 season for the Wolfpack.

We'll see.