Countdown to Kickoff Day 8: #43 NC State Wolfpack

NC State is one of the hardest teams to preview or provide any sort of prediction for this upcoming year. The head of the Wolfpack, Dave Doeren, is one of the most slept-on head coaches in college football right now, and if it weren't for Dabo Swinney being in the Atlantic division in the ACC, he might have a couple ACC Championships under his belt. Doeren has led NC State to bowl games 8 of the last 9 years and 8+ wins 5 out of the last 6 years, but can his success continue this year with an unproven offense and a daunting schedule?

The Offense: Robert Anae and Brennan Armstong are reunited and they are hoping for it to feel so good. They were separated last year when Anae left UVA to take the OC job at Syracuse, and Armstrong protested this move by Anae by turning a Heisman hopeful year into a total clown show sending the UVA offense into a downward spiral leading to 3-7 season for the Cavaliers. He “threw” for 2,210 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions…not a stat line I would want on my resume. The year prior with Anae, Armstrong had a year to remember with 39 total touchdowns, 4,449 yards passing, and only 10 interceptions. NC State’s success this year hangs in the balance of which Brennan Armstrong this team gets, 2021 or 2022. Some say the reunion with Anae will bring back the 2021 Armstrong, but did the 2022 catastrophe suck Armstrongs confidence out of his soul? It would for me.

The Defense: The defense is in solid shape. Returning keys players from last year, and welcoming Savion Jackson to their already monstrous defensive line. Tony Gibson is one of the best defensive minds in the country, and his defense will have opposing offenses eager to get the hell off the field again this year. This was a top defense in the ACC and a top 20 defense in the nation last year, and it will only get better this season. Davin Vann, CJ Clark, Aydan White, Shyheim Battle, and Payton Wilson all have First-Team-All-ACC dreams and there is a solid shot that those dreams become reality.

How many games will NC State win this year?

• 7 or more
• 6 or less

Prediction: We will know after the first couple games how good this team will be. Truthfully, I still have (false) hope that the 2021 version of Brennan Armstrong can make an appearance this year with the freedom Anae will allow him to play with. Realistically, I have this team at 7-5, but if the Wolfpack get a solid year out of BA we could be looking at 8-4 or 9-3.