North Carolina State controls their own destiny
The no. 23 North Carolina State Wolfpack controls their own destiny and can achieve a berth in the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) championship game if they can defeat the unranked Maryland Terrapins on Saturday 27 November.
Maryland’s season to date
The Terrapins began their season with modest two-game winning streak over opponents Navy and Morgan State. The party did not last long though as Maryland fell in week three to former no. 21 ranked West Virginia, 31-17.
They got back into the winner's circle with another two-game winning streak over Florida International and then Duke, but the Terrapins lost whatever momentum they had gained when they lost to Clemson on 16 October.
They followed the loss to Clemson with two victories over opponents Boston College and Wake Forest, but once again their streak was halted with a defeat to Miami (Florida).
They came back with a victory on 13 November over Virginia, but fell last weekend to Florida State.
Maryland is bowl eligible for the upcoming bowl series, but will not have the opportunity of making the ACC championship game on 4 December in Charlotte, North Carolina.
NC State’s season so far
The Wolfpack opened their season with a four-game winning streak, with victories over Western Carolina, University of Central Florida (UCF), Cincinnati and Georgia Tech.
The Wolfpack alternated losses and wins from 2 October to 6 November, with wins coming against Boston College and most importantly Florida State, while the losses came against Virginia Tech, East Carolina and Clemson.
NC State’s last two games have both been victories to keep them in step with ACC Atlantic division leader Florida State, which puts them into a “win and your in” position this weekend against Maryland.
Terrapins keys to victory
It is time for Maryland to play the spoiler and ruin the Wolfpacks season with a victory on Saturday. Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien, who made 45 passing attempts in the loss to Florida State, should not make that many attempts this weekend against
NC State as their defence ranks fifth in the ACC in passing.
The rushing game, which includes running backs Davin Meggett and Da’Rel Scott, will have to be the workhorses against the Wolfpack defensive line. Combined they have accumulated seven touchdowns and 1165 yards.
NC State’s keys to the game
This is the game of the year, the only game that matters and should be the only one each player and coach is thinking about.
The Wolfpack offence, led by quarterback Russell Wilson, is averaging 404.2 yards per game and 32.7 points per game. He will need to use all of his versatile weapons including running back Mustafa Greene and wide receivers Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams.
All three have combined for eleven touchdowns and will be looked on to lead the Wolfpack to victory.
The defence, which is allowing an average of 21.1 points per game, will need to step up physically and mentally. Any mistakes must be taken advantage of and penalties must be kept to a minimum.
"If you asked me this time last year what we were going to be doing right now, I'd like to have said we were going to play for an ACC championship," linebacker Audie Cole said Monday according to espn.go.com, "but I don't know if I'd have actually believed
it."
One more win for the Woflpack and the whole state of North Carolina will believe it.
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