NC State vs Virginia Picks and Prediction – 9/22/2023

In Friday night college football on ESPN, the NC State Wolfpack will travel to Scott Stadium to take on the Virginia Cavaliers. Be prepared for the college football action with our free college football predictions. The Wolfpack (2-1) have one of the better defenses in the ACC Conference for head coach Dave Doeren and are allowing 22 points per game. Last week, NC State raced out to a 21-point lead after one quarter and coasted to a 45-7 home victory versus FCS VMI. 

Virginia transfer QB Brennan Armstrong racked up 303 yards of total offense and found Bradley Rozner on a 16-yard touchdown pass. Robert Kennedy added a 30-yard interception return for a score to give the Wolfpack a 14-0 lead. NC State outgained VMI 498-191 and allowed just one third down conversion.

The Virginia Cavaliers are playing their second home game since a tragic school shooting left three players dead last season. Through three games, the Cavaliers rank last in the ACC Conference in total defense and are surrendering 42.3 points per contest. On Friday, Virginia held a 14-point lead in the first quarter before falling at Maryland by a 42-14 final score. 

Freshman QB Anthony Colandrea got his second career start and finished with 263 passing yards. Colandrea threw interceptions on three consecutive passing attempts in the second half for the Cavaliers, who gave up 342 yards through the air to the Terrapins.