NC State vs Syracuse football first look: Odds, Pack’s plan against a top ACC defense
The words were said around the N.C. State football team after the loss at Clemson and likely will be heard again this week:
“Nobody feels sorry for us.”
The No. 15 Wolfpack has lost quarterback Devin Leary to an injury, his return uncertain. Running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and receiver Devin Carter also were injured in the Pack’s 19-17 win Saturday over Florida State.
Does anyone think No. 18 Syracuse, next up for the Wolfpack, feels sorry for N.C. State?
There is little sympathy in college sports, when winning means so much and another team’s injuries can help your team get that win. While Syracuse’s Dino Babers, as a coach, should feel some of the pain N.C. State’s Dave Doeren is experiencing, that only goes so far.
The Orange is undefeated. Syracuse (5-0, 2-0 ACC) has the Pack coming to JMA Wireless Dome, where N.C. State won a 36-29 shootout in 2020 as the Pack’s Bailey Hockman threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns and receiver Thayer Thomas had nine catches for 102 yards and three of the scores.
The Wolfpack (5-1, 1-1) should have Jack Chambers at quarterback on Saturday. Behind him is MJ Morris, a true freshman. Before Saturday, they had combined for 46 snaps in games this season.
After the Pack’s 30-20 loss to Clemson, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said he used the “nobody feels sorry” line to his players. This week, it could be offensive coordinator Tim Beck.
Leary was lost in the third quarter of Saturday’s game against FSU. The Pack, after trailing 17-3 at halftime, shut down the Seminoles’ offense in the second half and Chambers was effective enough after coming in for Leary as N.C. State clawed out a 19-17 win.
“The biggest hero for us tonight was Jack with what he did to move the chains and orchestrate three scoring drives,” Doeren said.
All three ended in Christopher Dunn field goals — from 40, 53 and 27 yards. His 27-yarder, with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter, pushed the Pack in front.
It was up to the Wolfpack defense to finish it out and the unit responded with a pair of interceptions from Shyheim Battle and then Devan Boykin in the end zone after FSU reached the NCSU 22. Doeren passed up a 52-yard field-goal attempt by Dunn with 4:30 remaining, decided to punt and rely on his defense — a “tweener call,” as he put it.
“The way we were playing on defense, I didn’t think they could go 90 yards and beat us,” Doeren said.
FSU coach Mike Norvell relied on his offense rather than his kicker to beat the Pack. But the ‘Noles couldn’t, didn’t.
Game key: Pack’s game plan
The Wolfpack had to come up with some makeshift offensive plans when Leary went out and Chambers came in. The result was predictable: Chambers, a mobile QB, did a lot of running and minimal passing. One pass, in fact.
The Pack won’t be that one-dimensional on offense against Syracuse, but how diversified will the game plan be? Chambers played a lot of football at Charleston Southern, passing for 5,761 yards and 40 TDs, before transferring to NCSU and has been taking the second-team reps behind Leary through fall camp and into the season.
“Obviously, we had to make a bunch (of adjustments) offensively once Jack went in because of what he can do with his legs,” Doeren said. “That was a little bit more on the fly.”
Syracuse leads the ACC in scoring defense (14.0 points a game) and total defense (271.6 yards) and is second in rushing defense (95.0 yards).
Vegas betting odds
The Vegas oddsmakers have made the Orange a 4.5-point favorite after the Pack was favored in the opening line.
NC State at Syracuse football game and TV Info
Who: N.C. State (5-1, 1-1) at Syracuse (5-0, 2-0)
Where: JMV Wireless Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
TV: ACC Network
Stream: ESPN+
This story was originally published October 10, 2022 at 6:10 AM with the headline "NC State vs Syracuse football first look: Odds, Pack’s plan against a top ACC defense."
