NC State Football vs. Western Carolina: Scouting Report, Prediction

NC State's football team faces a possible top-25 matchup with Tennessee, but first the Wolf Pack opens the 2024 season on Thursday against Western Carolina (7 p.m., ACC Network) at Carter-Finley Stadium.

NC State is ranked No. 22 in USA TODAY Sports' US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP Top 25 and has a 7-0 record in the all-time series against the Catamounts. The Wolfpack have an 8-0 record in home openers under coach Dave Doeren, who has been the coach for 12 years.

In its seven games against Western Carolina, NC State has averaged 47 points and limited the Catamounts to 9.1 points, including two shutouts. NC State is one of five Power Four teams, along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Notre Dame, to win at least eight games in four consecutive seasons.

Here's a look at what to watch and a score prediction for the Wolfpack's first game of the 2024 college football season.

Explosive plays to start for Grayson McCall, NC State Offense

The Wolfpack will look to set the tone from the start with running back Jordan Waters making regular runs behind an experienced offensive line. Western Carolina's focus on slowing down the running game should give quarterback Grayson McCall the opportunity to find some explosive plays in the passing game, especially for wide receivers KC Concepcion and Noah Rogers. The new guys are primed to make an impressive first impression for the Wolfpack.

Aydan White and NC State's defense will get their chances against Western Carolina

Offensive coordinator Kade Bell left Western Carolina to take the same job at Pitt, but the Catamounts return quarterback Cole Gonzales, who threw 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. Gonzales attempted 30 or more passes in six of 11 games in 2023. If that trend continues, NC State defensive back Aydan White and the Wolfpack secondary will have plenty of chances to get takeaways. The Catamounts were third among FCS teams in passing offense (321.1 yards per game) and fourth in scoring (37.5 points per game) last season.

NC State must not develop bad habits before the game against Tennessee

As excited as the Wolfpack and their fans are about the opportunity to play an SEC team in an NFL stadium in Charlotte, NC State can't afford to develop bad habits against Western Carolina. The Pack doesn't want to empty the entire playbook against the Catamounts to give Tennessee plenty of room to maneuver, but limiting penalties and ball security are important keys in season openers. NC State needs a clean, smooth start to the year.

Score prediction for NC State vs. Western Carolina

NC State 44, Western Carolina 7: The newly formed Wolfpack will have a chance to showcase themselves in front of the fans at Carter-Finley Stadium before heading to Charlotte for the Duke's Mayo Classic. NC State will come out fired up and give its reserves plenty of playing time in the second half.

Editor Rodd Baxley can be reached at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

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NC State Football vs. Western Carolina: Scouting Report, Prediction

Explosive plays to start for Grayson McCall, NC State Offense

Aydan White and NC State's defense will get their chances against Western Carolina

NC State must not develop bad habits before the game against Tennessee

Score prediction for NC State vs. Western Carolina

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NC State Football vs. Western Carolina: Scouting Report, Prediction

Explosive plays to start for Grayson McCall, NC State Offense

Aydan White and NC State's defense will get their chances against Western Carolina

NC State must not develop bad habits before the game against Tennessee

Score prediction for NC State vs. Western Carolina

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By Hudson Brooklyn

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