Saturday’s game between Tennessee and NC State is one of just two games on the Week 2 schedule between ranked opponents, and it’s the first big test for each of them after playing FCS opponents in Week 1. The Volunteers are more than a touchdown favorite in the neutral site game that will be played in Charlotte.
While Tennessee absolutely rolled over Chattanooga last week, NC State found itself in a surprisingly tough game against Western Carolina before pulling away late in the fourth quarter. It was a mildly concerning start for the Wolfpack, who hope to contend for what suddenly looks to be a completely wide-open ACC.
Quarterback Grayson McCall, making his Wolfpack debut after transferring from Coastal Carolina, finished last week’s game with a solid 318-yard, three-touchdown performance, but it took him a few quarters to really start to find his rhythm. While Tennessee is a significantly tougher opponent than Western Carolina, the Volunteers have struggled against top quarterbacks in recent years. Saturday will be a good test for both teams.
On the Tennessee side, first-year starter Nico Iamaleava helped the Volunteers offense pick up where it left off last season by throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns on their way to a 69-point showing. The Volunteers offense was top-20 in total yards a year ago and averaged over 31 points per game.
NC State’s defense was one of the better groups in the country a year ago and didn’t allow many big plays, but it really struggled against an FCS team to open this season. Tennessee’s speed and explosiveness are going to be a big challenge, especially if Iamaleava repeats his Week 1 performance.
All odds from BetMGM. Looking for college football tickets? Find them here.
No. 14 Tennessee at No. 24 NC State odds
How to watch Tennessee at NC State
- Venue: Bank of America Stadium — Charlotte
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday
- TV: ABC
- Streaming: Watch live on Fubo (Save $30)
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(Photo of Nico Iamaleava: Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
