Two teams who could be somewhat off-the-radar threats to win their respective power conference face off on Saturday when No. 15 Tennessee of the SEC takes on No. 24 NC State of the ACC in prime time, with the Vols favored on the NCAAF odds for the neutral-site game.
Tennessee vs NC State Game Preview: 2024 NCAAF Expert Analysis
| Opening NCAAF Lines Subject to Change: Vols -7.5 (total 61) Expert Prediction: Tennessee 34, NC State 27 |
Tennessee Volunteers -300
The Vols (1-0) had little trouble in their opener, trashing FCS school Chattanooga 69-3. Tennessee scored on its first seven possessions and rolled up 718 yards of total offense as the Vols scored on 10 of their 13 offensive possessions, producing touchdowns on eight of them. They finished with 414 yards through the air and another 304 on the ground, tying for the second-highest total yardage number in program history.
Tennessee’s 69 points were the second-most points scored in the modern era (1937-present), and the 66-point margin of victory was the third-highest of the modern era. The 66-point margin of victory also was the highest for Tennessee in a season opener since defeating Carson-Newman 101-0 on Sept. 25, 1915.
Nico Iamaleava
Redshirt freshman quarterback was very impressive in his first home start in completing his first 10 passes and finishing with 314 yards through the air on 22-of-28 accuracy with three touchdowns in only two quarters of action. That yardage total was a school record for a half, topping the previous best of 313 set by Tyler Bray in the first half vs. Troy in 2012. Iamaleava was a very highly touted recruit in the Class of 2023 who started last year’s bowl game (his only previous start) and was named MVP in the win.
Multi-touchdown Days
Running back and wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. produced multi-touchdown days for UT against Chattanooga. Sampson finished with 124 yards rushing on 12 carries, tallying scoring totes of one, three and five. Thornton Jr., meanwhile, hauled in TD catches of 36 and 10 yards while recording three grabs for a team-high 105 yards.
The Vol defense kept the Mocs out of the end zone all day, surrendering only 74 rushing yards and 227 yards of total offense. Before they finished their day at the intermission, the first-team stop-troops had surrendered only 83 yards and four first downs while preventing Chattanooga from moving past its own 47 yard-line.
Tennessee secured its 11th straight victory over a non-conference opponent, representing its longest streak against non-conference foes since winning 12 straight from 2015-17. Since 2021, the Vols are 14-2 in non-conference play under Coach Josh Heupel. Tennessee has outscored non-SEC foes 772-236 during that stretch. The Vols improved to 22-2 under Heupel when rushing for at least 200 yards, and have now won 16 straight when doing so.
This Saturday will be only the second time that the Vols will play a game in Bank of America Stadium. UT lost to No. 17 West Virginia, 40-14, on Sept. 1, 2018, in the Belk College Kickoff.
Tennessee with Josh Heupel
The Vols are 22-2 under Heupel when rushing for at least 200 yards, and have now won 16 straight when doing so. Since taking over a program that was 3-7 prior to his arrival, Heupel owns a 28-12 record and has won 23 of his last 30 games.
^NC State Wolfpack +234
NC State (1-0) beat FCS school Western Carolina 38-21 in the season opener. Branson Adams scampered into the end zone from 17 yards out at the 4:36 mark of the third quarter to give Western Carolina a 21-17 lead entering the fourth quarter, but the Wolfpack scored 21 unanswered points in the final frame to avoid the massive upset.
Kevin Concepcion
Big night included nine receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns. He became the first Wolfpack wide receiver since Thayer Thomas in 2020 to bring in three scores in a game. Concepcion also became just the fourth sophomore in program history to have a three-touchdown reception game, joining Tramain Hall vs. Duke (2003), Jericho Cotchery vs. Clemson (2001), and Koren Robinson vs. Georgia Tech (2000). Since the beginning of the 2023 campaign, only one active power four receivers has more TD catches than Concepcion.
The Newcomers
Multiple players for the Wolfpack suited up for the first time in the opener, with running back Jordan Waters running for 123 yards on 20 attempts and two touchdowns. His 50-yard run late in the fourth quarter sealed the game. Quarterback Grayson McCall went 26-40 for 318 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. McCall became the fourth ever 300+ yard QB debut for the Pack, joining Matthew McKay, Harrison Beck, and Phillip Rivers.
🗣 "Really good opponent that dominated their opening game against Chattanooga. Explosive offense with really talented players."
— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) September 3, 2024
What NC State coach Dave Doeren said about game vs. Tennessee football ⬇️https://t.co/ElI7ZKSglJ
Grayson McCall
NC State is one of just five programs in the Power 4 that has won eight or more games in each of the last four seasons. McCall, the transfer from Coastal Carolina, has thrown 91 career touchdowns with just 15 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 18 scores.
The Wolfpack lead the nation in consecutive PATs made. They haven’t missed an extra point since the regular season finale of the 2017 season – 252 straight. NC State and UT boast two of the most experienced offensive lines in college football for 2024. Tennessee’s starting O-line entered the season with a combined 284 games played (3rd), while the Pack’s boasted 229 (8th).
The Duke’s Mayo Classic will be the 10th game NC State has played in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.
^Tennessee vs NC State NCAA Football Info
When: Saturday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
TV: ABC
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: Tunein.com
^
Tennessee vs NC State Series History
Tennessee leads the all-time series 2-1 and won the last matchup 35-21 to kick off the 2012 season at a neutral site in Atlanta. The other two meetings were both in Raleigh, N.C. This is the first time that the two teams will square off as ranked teams.
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