With the college football season past its midpoint, many conference title matchups are still on the line while many other teams are vying for top bowl contention. In the ACC, the NC State Wolfpack are having one of their better seasons in recent memory with a 5-2 record and an appearance in the top 25. This week they will tangle with conference foe Virginia Tech at home as the Hokies look to right the ship. On the west coast, Utah is coming off a dramatic 43-42 win over USC at home and hit the road to take on the frisky Cougars of Wazzu at Martin Stadium.
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each squad, who will win in each matchup, and also some other notes about betting on college football.
| NCAA Football Week Five Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Tech at NC State | NC State ML | -480 | -480 | -480 |
| Utah at Washington State | Utah -7 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Team Spotlight: Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is currently on a string of four straight losses and is looking for a rebound performance against conference foe NC State. Hokies quarterback Grant Wells has been productive at times this year but has struggled with interceptions (seven on the season to seven passing scores). Nonetheless, Virginia Tech does have playmakers like wide receiver Kaleb Smith who has nearly 500 receiving yards (428) and two scores. The Hokies have been outscored by almost six points per game this season so if they are angling to beat the Wolfpack they will have to batten down the hatches and limit the NC State rushing attack (134 yards per game).
Team Spotlight: NC State
A strong offense in the ACC, the Wolfpack have been blistering foes with a points-per-game metric of 27.4, which has given them a roughly 10-point advantage over the competition this season. While NC State is coming off a loss to Syracuse on the road, 24-9, the Wolfpack still have had some solid wins including a two-point victory over conference Florida State at home. Quarterback Devin Leary has been a solid signal-caller this year for the Pack with 11 passing scores to four interceptions. While NC State is only 1-2 in conference play, they have earned enough respect around the country to be placed within the top 25.
Prediction: This should be a fun game at home for the Wolfpack and a perfect opportunity for them to bounce back against the Hokies. Take the NC State moneyline here.
Team Spotlight: Washington State
Wazzu has struggled in their last two games but has had a solid record at home this season. In their last showing at Martin Stadium, the Cougars were able to knock off Cal, 28-9. Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward has been a passing threat this season with 1,962 yards along with 16 scores. His favorite target has been Dezhaun Stribling who has hauled in 35 receptions so far to go with four touchdowns.
Team Spotlight: Utah
Maybe the favorite to win the Pac-12 this year after knocking off the Trojans, the Utes have had another strong campaign even with a couple of missteps. Utah signal-caller Cameron Rising has been very efficient with the football with 15 scores to go with just three interceptions on the year. The Utes have also been very high-scoring as well with over 40 points per game on average (40.7).
Prediction: A classic trap game for Utah, look for the Utes to get past the Cougars in Pullman.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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