North Carolina State vs. East Carolina Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 1

Expectations are high in Raleigh, but will the North Carolina State Wolfpack live up to it?

North Carolina State is fresh off a 9-3 season where they nearly made the ACC Championship and now look to take the next step as a program and break through as a true College Football Playoff threat. The team's journey starts against in-state rival East Carolina on the road as both teams return their starting quarterbacks from last season.

The last time time these two met was in Raleigh in 2019, the Wolfpack won 34-6 as 17-point favorites. Let's see the odds for this time around and see how this game will play out:

North Carolina State vs. East Carolina Odds, Spread and Total

North Carolina State vs. East Carolina Betting Trends

• NC State is 11-10 against the spread (ATS) as a road favorite under Dave Doeren
• NC State has lost last three road openers
• NC State went 2-3 on the road last season
• East Carolina is 5-6 ATS as a home underdog under Mike Houston, but did go 4-2 straight up last season at home

North Carolina vs. East Carolina Prediction and Pick

Something smells fishy about this game. I loved NC State last season, thought it was going to outperform expectations, and it did just that going over 6.5 wins with ease.

Now, the narrative is different around this team as some think this is a dark horse CFP team. While I think the Wolfpack are very good, I don't think they are in the same breath as the national elite. I'm not dying to fade NC State just yet, but I don't think this is a layup like the line indicates.

The Pirates went 7-5 and have a veteran quarterback in Holter Ahlers who is up-and-down, but will be playing in front of a rocking Greenville crowd. This is a rivalry game and all anyone has heard is how great Devin Leary is and the returning pieces on defense.

Overall, Leary returns after a 3,433 yard season and a sterling 35:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. 10 starters are back on a top 20 defense. The team does need to replace both key running backs and the team's star receiver, Emeka Emezie, but this team has earned hype into the season, but how much is too much?

This number has gone from 10 to between 11 and 12 (depending where you look) and I think it's a dog or pass spot with a stark change in expectation around Doeren's group in 2022.