On The Other Hand . . . .

After I wrote my last post - I went online to see what other organizations (Rivals, Athlon, etc.) have predicted for NC State.

To recall - the ESPN Blog has NC State picked to finish next to last - just ahead of Boston College.

Surprisingly, I found most other sites have a more positive outlook for State.

Case in point - Athlon has just come out with their ranking of all BCS football schools along with a write up of each school and why they are picked where they are. They have NC State picked #54. Here's the link -

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25

Now - let's be real. Preseason hype is just that. A bunch of hype. But, if you're a college sports fan - its a fun thing to follow and talk about.

So - here's NC State's (#54) schedule broken down by Athlon preseason rankings:

• Louisiana Tech (54 > 90) State should win.
• Richmond Spiders (54 > D2) FCS School - no rank - State should win.
• Clemson (6 > 54) State should lose - Clemson might be in the hunt for a National Championship
• Central Michigan (54 > 111) State should win.
• Wake Forest (54 > 70) State should win - but with WF, you never know.
• Syracuse (54 > 75) State should win. Obviously Syracuse was added to the ACC for their basketball program.
• Florida State (15 > 54) State should lose.
• UNCheats (38 > 54) State should lose. And, as much as I hate to say it, UNCheats will probably be a top 25 team. However - home game - revenge factor - you never know.
• Duke (54 > 73) State should win. But like Wake Forest - you never know.
• Boston College (54 > 84) State should win.
• East Carolina (54 > 77) State should win. ECU is always motivated when they play State or Carolina. Could be another "you never know".
• Maryland (53 > 54) A toss up. Give the game to State due to home field advantage. Plus, we'll be motivated to end Maryland's ACC affiliation with a loss.

So - NC State, with a good defense but questionable offensive line - And a completely unknown QB - who might even be a transfer that hasn't even taken an NC State snap in spring ball - by the preseason numbers - should be 8 and 4. Or even 9 and 3 if we beat Maryland at home.

Yeah - that's gonna happen. LOL

If T'OB were still coach - no way. With new coach Doeren, a fired up motivator - well, maybe 7 and 5 is possible. Which is the same record T'OB squeezed out last year with a 'better' team.

I'm feeling much better about the upcoming season.

Addendum 7-9-13

At the other end of the prediction spectrum - these guys believe State will finish dead last in the ACC.

http://www.footballnation.com/content/acc-football-2013-preseason-power-rankings/23240/

So - there you have it. State will probably finish somewhere between a dismal losing season of 3 and 9 and a spectacular winning season of 9 and 3.

LOL