NC State vs. East Carolina football preview, prediction

Your look at the NC State vs. ECU game on the Week 1 college football schedule

Week 1 of the college football schedule is here as No. 13 NC State opens on the road against East Carolina on Saturday.

The Wolfpack finished second in the division behind Wake a year ago, but have a shot at making the ACC title game this season.

Here's what you need to know about this weekend's Week 1 opener.

NC State vs. East Carolina preview, prediction

NC State opens the 2022 college football schedule at East Carolina

How to watch

When: Sat., Sept. 3

Time: 12 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN network

Stream: fuboTV

East Carolina vs. NC State odds

Line: NC State -11

O/U: 55

Moneyline: NCST -430 ECU +328

FPI picks: NC State 74.8%

NC State vs. East Carolina: What to watch

1. NC State's experience. Judging by the SP+ ratings, the Wolfpack should be one of the most veteran teams in college football this year. Upwards of 80% of last season's production is back for an encore, including 10 starters on offense and up to 7 back on a defense that placed in the top 25 in total yardage and in the top 15 in scoring.

2. East Carolina can move the ball. ECU racked up 433.2 yards per game and averaged just under 30 points per game a year ago. Holton Ahlers returns at quarterback after a 3,100-yard, 18 TD outing and he'll get his top receiving duo back, C.J. Johnson and Ryan Jones, in addition to lead back Keaton Mitchell, who led the Pirates with nearly 1,100 rushing yards and nine TDs. A balanced attack that, combined with a home atmosphere, could get some decent yardage early.

3. The Devin Leary experience. NC State loses some production at tailback, but don't worry about this offense pushing the ball downfield. Leary led a unit that scored 33.1 ppg and averaged 414.6 yards per game last season. Leary had 3,400 yards passing with 35 TDs and just 5 picks, and he gets his top WR duo back, too, after Thayer Thomas and Devin Carter combined for 14 touchdowns last fall. If the Pack gets its pass protection set right, this offense can go places.

NC State vs. East Carolina: Fast Facts

+ Dave Doeren is 2-2 against ECU, but won the last two by a 92-9 margin

+ Devin Leary was the only QB in FBS with 10-plus TDs and one or no INTs in the fourth quarter or OT last season

+ NC State is 5-13 against the spread in their last 18 road games and 5-1 ATS in their last six against AAC teams

+ Leary is one of 4 quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff era to have 35 TDs, 5 or fewer picks, and 3,400 passing yards in a season

+ East Carolina is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games against ACC competition and 6-2 ATS in the last 8 games overall

+ NC State was just four combined points from a perfect ACC record last season

+ The Wolfpack returns an expected 80 percent of last season's total production, with 10 starters on offense and 7 on defense

+ NC State has scored at least 27 points in 10 straight games, the third most nationally

+ NC State is 7-0 when Thayer Thomas has 80 yards receiving in a game

What happens?

East Carolina at home can be pretty tough for some teams. This team has been known to beat a Power Five favorite a time or two in the past, or at least play them close enough to make it interesting.

The Pirates plastered North Carolina in 2018 and lost to Cincinnati and South Carolina by a combined six points in recent memory.

And with their returning offensive experience, expect the home team to churn some honest yards and momentum in the early phases of the game. But the Wolfpack are in another class, returning the core of a team that beat Clemson and boasts the clear talent edge at quarterback, receiver, and total defense.

College Football HQ prediction: NC State 38, East Carolina 21

College football rankings

According to AP Top 25 poll

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Clemson
5. Notre Dame
6. Texas A&M
7. Utah
8. Michigan
9. Oklahoma
10. Baylor
11. Oregon
12. Oklahoma State
13. NC State
14. USC
15. Michigan State
16. Miami
17. Pittsburgh
18. Wisconsin
19. Arkansas
20. Kentucky
21. Ole Miss
22. Wake Forest
23. Cincinnati
24. Houston
25. BYU

---

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Facebook