Three Keys and a Prediction

Factors that will help decide this week's game against Clemson
Joshua S. Kelly/USAToday sports

Homecoming is traditionally a time for returning alumni to renew old acquaintances, trade stories about the good old days and celebrate an impressive win by their alma mater’s current football team. In an effort to ensure the latter, schools usually choose the weakest opponent on its schedule to help commemorate the occasion. 

Not NC State. 

Instead of going with Western Carolina or Ball State early in the season, or even Louisville next week, someone in their infinite wisdom decided it would be a good idea to schedule this year’s event against Clemson. 

That would have been a bad idea under any circumstances, but considering the current state of the Wolfpack — with a freshman quarterback starting his second career game and a defense riddled by injuries to key players — it's going to take a homecoming miracle for coach Dave Doeren and his team to break a six-game losing streak to the Tigers.

Here are three keys that might help State make that happen and shock the world:

Play with emotion

The Wolfpack won't be able to match the Tigers in depth and talent tonight, but it can make up at least some of the difference by playing with more passion and motivation. It shouldn't be that hard for State to get up for this game. It's homecoming. It's the Textile Bowl. It's a chance gain national attention by upsetting one of the nations. If the Wolfpack can feed off the energy of its sellout crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium and channel it into effort, there's no telling what can happen. Just ask the folks over in Chapel Hill.

Shorten the game

The best way to defend quarterback Trevor Lawrence and his wealth of offensive weapons, especially considering the physical condition of State's secondary, is to keep them on the sidelines for as long as possible. In order to do that, the Wolfpack needs to slow down its own offensive tempo, establish a ground game to take the pressure off young quarterback Devin Leary and keep the clock running and win the time-of-possession battle by a significant margin. It's also imperative to take full advantage of every scoring opportunity with touchdowns rather than field goals or worse, turnovers.

Don't give Clemson any help

Speaking of turnovers, the one thing State absolutely can not do against the Tigers is aid and abet an ACC-leading offense that knows how to put up big numbers on its own. The Wolfpack took themselves out of last week's game at Wake Forest early by fumbling away a kickoff return then throwing an interception and digging a 21-0 hole for itself before the end of the first quarter. If that happens again, there's no telling how many points Dabo and his boys might score as they look to make an impression on a skeptical College Football Playoff committee.

Travis Etienne has already rushed for more than 1,100 yards and scored 11 touchdowns this season
Travis Etienne has already rushed for more than 1,100 yards and scored 11 touchdowns this season :: Adam Hagy/USAToday sports

PREDICTION

Coach Dave Doeren called Clemson a team with no weaknesses earlier this week and this time, it wasn't just coach-speak. The Tigers are loaded, especially on the offensive side of the ball and they're highly motivated to put on an impressive show after being ranked only fifth in the first College Football Playoff poll. State might be able to hang with the defending champs for awhile. But eventually, form will hold and Clemson will cover the 33 1/2 point spread ... Clemson 47 State 13


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