FSU football: 3 keys to Noles defeating NC State in 2021
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football will face a stiff test when they welcome the NC State Wolfpack to Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Noles come into the game off a physical and hard-fought loss against Clemson last week. It’s a game where I wrote they can’t allow that loss to develop into 2-3 three consecutive. NC State handled Louisville in last week’s matchup and brings a team balanced on both sides of the ball.
They rank No. 32 overall, according to advanced metrics at BCF Toys, eight spots ahead of FSU football. They aren’t necessarily spectacular, but they don’t beat themselves with turnovers and penalties. They have good quarterback play and solid wide receivers they look to get in space.
Their offense consists of a lot of quick-game, which helps negate the pass rush of teams. The running backs run hard, and the offense scores touchdowns 69 percent of the time in the red zone.
Defensively, they are excellent at not allowing third-down conversions (28.57 percent) and only allow touchdowns in the red zone 47 percent of the time. However, this team has the propensity to lay an egg on the road as both of their losses have come away from home.
FSU will need to score north of 28 points to have a shot in this one, and the defense will need to circle the wagons because this offense can be frustrating to play. Let’s get into my three keys to victory for the Noles against the Wolfpack.