NC State vs. Tennessee Picks, Predictions, and Odds: A Ranked Showdown in Charlotte

• This is the first meeting between the two since 2012

• NC State struggled against Western Carolina last week

• Tennessee is one of six SEC teams ranked in the top 15

The No. 24 NC State Wolfpack will take on the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers in an SEC-ACC showdown between two teams looking to climb the ladder in their respective conferences.

The Wolfpack had a sluggish start against Western Carolina but escaped with a 38-21 win thanks to 123 yards and two touchdowns from running back Jordan Waters. 

On the other side, Tennessee dominated UT-Chattanooga 69-3 as freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava racked up 314 yards and three touchdowns. They also beat their last three opponents in the ACC Conference, including No. 7 Clemson and No. 17 Pittsburgh in 2022. 

Here, we will analyze the NC State vs. Tennessee matchup and share our favorite picks for the cross-conference battle.

No. 24 NC State vs. No. 15 Tennessee Odds 

The Volunteers were favored by just 4.5 points when the line first opened, but they’re now favored by 7.5 points over the Wolfpack. Tennessee easily covered in Week 1, while NC State was 15.5 points away from the 32.5-point line.

Odds are taken from FanDuel Sportsbook. Head over to FanDuel to claim $200 in Bonus Bets plus three weeks of NFL Sunday Ticket.

No. 24 NC State vs. No. 15 Tennessee Predictions 

While this is technically a neutral venue, NC State figures to have the crowd advantage since the game will be played in North Carolina. That should make it the toughest environment for Iamaleava, who only has two full college games of experience under his belt.

Tennessee is going to want to run the ball to support Iamaleava. Junior back Dylan Sampson ripped off 12 carries for 124 yards and three touchdowns against Chattanooga, giving a great follow-up to his start in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa last year, during which he took 20 carries for 133 yards against a tremendous defense.

The Vols did an excellent job shutting down the point of attack on defense. They limited Chattanooga to only 74 yards on 35 carries (2.1 yards per carry), though they only managed one sack and did not force an interception. 

Meanwhile, NC State took some time to find its rhythm. They went into halftime tied 14-14 but won the second half 24-7, which is almost exactly what the 32.5-point spread suggested would happen (if they played at that level in both halves).

Grayson McCall threw the ball 40 times for 318 yards, three TDs, and an interception. Kevin Concepcion was the primary target and caught nine balls for 121 yards and all three scores. 

The Wolfpack secondary held its own, but its run defense left a lot to be desired. The Catamounts ran for 129 yards on just 19 attempts and had three players record longest runs of 12 yards or further.

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No. 24 NC State vs. No. 15 Tennessee Pick

• My Pick: Tennessee -7.5 (-112) at FanDuel Sportsbook

NC State should play much better than it did. McCall is an experienced quarterback with 109 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions across his entire career, and the defense ranked 29th in points allowed per game (21.9) in 2023.

That said, the Volunteers might have too much fuel in their engine for this team to slow down. The greatest testament to their Week 1 efficiency was their conversion rate in important situations, which included 9-15 (60 percent) on third down and 1-1 (100 percent) on fourth down.

Iamaleava also has a chance to be regarded as the best quarterback in the country by the end of the year. At 6-foot-6, he has the size and power to push the ball down the field, but he also has great feet and can make plays on the move when needed.

We believe that NC State will hold its own early on but the Vols will slowly separate and win the game by more than a touchdown. 

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How to Watch No. 24 NC State vs. No. 15 Tennessee

• When: Saturday, September 7 @ 7:30 p.m. ET

• Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

• Watch: ABC/ESPN+

No. 24 NC State vs. No. 15 Tennessee Best Promos and Sportsbooks

Every major sportsbook has the NC State vs. Tennessee spread set at 7.5 points. At the time of writing, FanDuel (-108) has the best odds for the Vols, while BetRivers (-106) has the best odds for the Wolfpack.

Below, we have listed the best online sportsbooks, their active promo offers, and available promo codes. Take a look.

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No. 24 NC State vs. No. 15 Tennessee Injuries

NC State

• None to report

Tennessee

• Emmanuel Okoye (DL) - Out

• Jordan Thomas (DB) - Out (knee)

• Braylon Staley (WR) - Questionable

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