NC State football vs. Louisville: Scouting report, prediction for Wolfpack ACC home opener
NC State football will host Louisville on Friday in its ACC home opener at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Coming off a 24-21 win at Virginia, the Wolfpack (3-1, 1-0 ACC) play the Cardinals (4-0, 2-0) at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
“They’re intentional about improving, and I’m seeing that," NC State coach Dave Doeren said of the Wolfpack.
"I think that’s the one thing that excites me about this team."
Louisville has an 8-4 edge in the all-time series, but NC State has won two of the last three games at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Cardinals won 25-10 last season in Kentucky.
The Wolfpack will add former NC State player Bill Cowher to its ring of honor during Friday’s game. Cowher is a Super Bowl champion and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a longtime NFL coach.
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Here’s a look at some things to watch and a score prediction for NC State’s game against Louisville in Raleigh.
Blackout Friday at Carter-Finley Stadium
Doeren confirmed the Wolfpack will be rocking its black jerseys under the lights in front of what should be a rowdy crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium. NC State wore black jerseys and beat a Lamar Jackson-led Louisville squad in 2017 on a Thursday night in Raleigh. NC State has won its last seven league openers at home, with its last loss coming to Louisville in 2015. Wolfpack fans will need to bring their best this weekend.
Louisville’s high-flying offense vs. NC State’s stout defense
The Cardinals lead the ACC in total offense (542 yards per game) through four games under first-year coach Jeff Brohm. Louisville, which dropped 56 points on Boston College last week and is averaging 43 points per game, leads the league in passing and rushing yards. Quarterback Jack Plummer has helped the Cardinals pace the nation in passes of 40 or more yards. But NC State’s defense has limited opponents to 30% on third-down conversions for the best mark in the ACC. The Wolfpack defense has to get off the field in this one.
Keep NC State receiver KC Concepcion in the mix
NC State freshman wide receiver KC Concepcion seems to be getting better every week. Concepcion, who leads the Wolfpack with 22 catches for 238 yards, had six catches for 116 yards and two TDs against Virginia as the ACC Rookie of the Week.
NC State vs. Louisville score prediction
Louisville 28, NC State 22: The Wolfpack has won 17 of its last 19 games at Carter-Finley Stadium, but Louisville seems to be pressing all of the right buttons through four games. I trust the Cardinals’ offense more than I do the Wolfpack’s at this point.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State football vs. Louisville: Scouting report, prediction
