Dave Doeren has been at NC State since 2013, making him one of the longest-tenured coaches in college football. And if you give him a pass for that first season, when the Wolfpack finished 3-9, he’s only finished the regular season with a losing record once.
The joke about NC State football is that it’s pretty much locked in for somewhere between seven and nine wins every season. Year after year, Doeren delivers a good-not-great experience. He’s never won 10 games in a season, and he’s never won an ACC title.Â
But the team rarely sucks. And in the ACC, that’s not nothing.
Despite Doeren’s impressive consistency, the NC State football odds market is pretty lukewarm this year. BetMGM’s college football win totals peg NC State 7.5, with juice toward the under. The over is available at +100.
To me, this seems like a bit of a soft number for a program with a top returning quarterback in CJ Bailey and an imminently beatable ACC schedule.Â
Even if you assume losses against Vanderbilt and Louisville, the Wolfpack play their final seven games against Wake Forest, Stanford, Cal, Duke, Syracuse, Florida State, and North Carolina. With a strong offensive outlook, NC State shouldn’t struggle to rack up wins against the back end of this schedule, even if some of these games turn into defense-optional shootouts.Â
There’s also the season opener to consider. NC State originally agreed to play a conference game against Virginia in Brazil in Week 0, with a bye slated for Week 1 to account for complex travel and recovery. That game has now been moved to Charlottesville.
On the one hand, a neutral game turning into a true conference road game in Week 0 could be viewed as unlucky. But NC State has won three straight in Charlottesville, and the double-bye schedule (Weeks 1 and 7) could be a boon for in-season tweaking and rest. With FCS Richmond on deck in Week 2, expect the Wolfpack to have a creative game plan for their trip to Nashville in Week 3.
As usual, the market is soft on NC State because betting on Doeren just isn’t a sexy move. It’s a little bit like buying an index fund – it’s hard to brag about it on a date, but chances are it’ll get the job done.Â
That’s why I included this win total in my top college football futures bets of this summer.
The content provided in this blog is intended for entertainment purposes only. All views and opinions expressed are the authors and reflect their individual perspectives on sports, betting, and related topics. This content should not be considered professional betting advice or the official views of BetMGM LLC. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know is experiencing issues related to gambling, seek help from a licensed health professional. This blog is not liable for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from betting activities.
