And Finally, the USA Today Countown

OK, this will be the last football pre-season countdown entry. It means nothing other than pure speculation. And, I kind of think that NC State is over-rated in all of the countdowns. I hope I'm wrong. In fact, I secretly harbor a bit of unrealistic optimism that this year's team will actually exceed expectations and go 10 and 2 (losing to Clemson, FSU and extracting some revenge against UNCheats).

Anyway, here's our weak schedule comparison using the USA Today Countdown. USA Today has NC State pegged at number 53.

• Louisiana Tech @ NCSU W (53 > 63 - we start the season with a real team in a close game)
• Richmond @ NCSU W (53 > D2)
• Clemson @ NCSU L (top 10 > 53 - Hopefully we'll keep this Thursday night ESPN game respectable. Dumbo Sweeny will have an inexplicable loss killing Clemson's National Championship dreams. Maybe it could be this game. Going to see Steely Dan Wednesday night and Boseman staying to go to this game)
• Central Michigan @ NCSU W (53 > 102)
• NCSU @ Wake Forest W (53 > 72 - a close road win. Could be a WF upset)
• Syracuse @ NCSU W (53 > 81)
• NCSU @ Florida State L (top 15 > 53 - again, hope to keep it respectable. FSU possibly on the way to the BCS National Championship Game. FSU will also want revenge for last years defeat which kept FSU out of the Natl Championship. And - Bobby Bowden is scheduled to be at Doak Cambell Stadium for the first time since 2009 - to receive a presentation. Hmmm . . . home field advantage to the 'Noles)
• UNCheats @ NCSU L (45 > 53 - I'd do anything to get the upset win. Unfortunately, I think UNC is much better than 45.)
• NCSU @ Dook W (53 > 86 - will be at this game in Duh-Ham with Chip and the gang. Dook always plays us close. Hopefully not this year)
• NCSU @ Boston College W (53 > 100)
• ECU @ NCSU L (51 > 53 - Essentially equal pick. ECU is motivated and by the very close numbers, should win. I think State will use the crowd and home field to get motivated for the 'upset')
• Maryland @ NCSU W (53 > 66 - Close game that could go either way)

So, by the predictions, NCSU goes 8 and 4. Again - useless speculation. But it would be awesome if it really happens.

I agree with all the predictions that ECU, Maryland and Louisiana Tech will be the deciding games on State having a 9 and 3 season or a 6 and 6 season.

I'm also always wary of Dook and Wake Forest. They always play State close and get the upset win way more often than they should. And, we play both of them at their home fields this year.

Frankly, we better be ready for every single game and take no one for granted.