NC State is favored by 21.5 points in Saturday’s game against Old Dominion. Can the Pack bounce back from its loss at East Carolina? The Wolfpacker staff offers up its game predictions.

Matt Carter

As one longtime NC State football insider said this week, the Old Dominion game has the feel of what does the Pack want to make of it.

Old Dominion was beaten 31-7 at Appalachian State this past Saturday. The last two years the Wolfpack have defeated ODU by a combined score of 84-48. Two years ago it was tight for a half before NCSU pulled away, but that Monarchs team was led by Taylor Heinicke at quarterback, who played last year for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL.

Last season, NC State rolled to a 38-14 win at Old Dominion in a festive atmosphere at Norfolk in what was the first Power Five team to visit ODU for a football game. The Pack outgained ODU 435-148 in total yards that evening, reflecting the dominance of the game.

Odds are that Saturday’s game should be more reflective of the second meeting between the two teams than the first, if NC State is able to put that ECU loss behind them. Here’s betting that they will.

Prediction: NC State 42, Old Dominion 14

Jacey Zembal

NC State rolled by Old Dominion 38-14 last year, and it wasn’t close. The atmosphere was great for a crowd of 20,000-plus in Norfolk, and definitely was the Monarchs’ Super Bowl, but it became pretty clear that NC State was going to do whatever it wanted. Old Dominion’s lone big highlight was then sophomore running back Ray Lawry going 80 yards on a swing pass.

Lawry returns, but it’s hard to believe that Old Dominion has really closed the gap. Appalachian State, which is a good team, cruised to a 31-7 win over ODU last Saturday in Boone, N.C. Appalachian State dominated with the run game and a “safe” passing attack.

NCSU senior running back Matthew Dayes should have a big game, and so should his backup, sophomore Reggie Gallaspy. I’m sure NC State offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford has intimated to his group that his former guys at Appalachian State controlled the line of scrimmage, and they need to do the same.

Getting a win is a must, but NC State also needs style points. The Wolfpack has until Oct. 1 versus Wake Forest to rid any attention to detail miscues from their play. The ACC slate, plus Notre Dame, won’t be forgiving.

Prediction: NC State 45, Old Dominion 17