Well, Vanderbilt is 2-0, but none of us really feel good about it. After sleepwalking through wins over Austin Peay and Delaware, the competition steps up this week with NC State coming to town.
But it only steps up so much. NC State lost 34-8 to Virginia in its season opener and, honestly, looked pretty blah in that game. Can Jared Curtis bring home a win in his first career start? Let’s ask the writers!
Andrew VU ‘04
In week zero, we all witnessed QAnoNC State get run the hell over by the University of Virginny
Happy Papi Wahoo-Cavs and their offensive line of active retirees. Then we spent two weeks wondering why we couldn’t run the ball all over Austin Peay and Delaware. So… I don’t know. I think the Wolfpaxxine-Deniers are pretty bad this year, but I’m not entirely sure how ready for prime time our boys are, either. Let’s say this will be an annoying, low-scoring game, but one Curtis will work his Baby Josh Allen magic on late. Then QAnoNC State will give themselves rings and pretend they actually won.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 23, NC State 20.
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: Well, I didn’t pick one this week, but of course, I went like 3-15 last week in my picks or something, so what do I know? I don’t think The Jorts are particularly good, so The War Tigers are likely to be a common upset pick. So… fuck it, give me New Mexico (+22.5) over The OK Boomers, because that Joad-based meltdown would be pretty funny.
Patrick Sawyer
Not to scoop myself, but there were just a few big moments in the Delaware game that kept the defense from having another shutdown performance. Plays of 57, 33, 37, and 43 made up 170 of Delaware’s 338 total yards. Those 4 plays combined with the blocked punt TD really gave Delaware the only punch they had in the game. Otherwise, the defense made their life hell on the regular. The 11 TFLs, of which 6 were sacks, 2.7 yards per carry allowed, and 7.5 yards per passing attempt allowed are much more indicative of the game than the score.
Offensively, the news about this being Jared Curtis’s team going forward should be very encouraging. He was 14/22 for 210 yards (a 9.5 yards per attempt average) with a 65.6 Total QBR. I think he opens up defenses because of the cannon attached to his right shoulder, so I would expect the RBs to find more space, even with Alexander and Younger both being over 4.0 yards per carry.
NC State got smacked by Virginia in Week 0. They had only 168 yards of offense and averaged 3.4 yards per pass and 3.2 yards per rush. The Wolfpack did run all over Richmond for 428 yards on 9.5 yards per carry. QB CJ Bailey was 13/17 for 281 yards. I feel pretty confident that Vanderbilt’s defense will not let the Wolfpack run the ball like that, and Bailey is not going to throw it more successfully with how aggressive and confusing the defensive front was against Delaware.
I said it last week, but I think this is going to be the breakout game for Curtis and the Commodores.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 38, NC State 20
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: Bleh
Tom Stephenson
I have been counseling patience with the quarterback situation for the first couple of weeks of the season, and now that that’s finally over and Jared Curtis is the guy… you know what, the growing pains are going to happen. I thought going into the season that NC State would be a good early test but after that Virginia score, nah, I think this is a team we should beat.
It will be close, of course, but I think Vandy pulls it out.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 31, NC State 28
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: I’m gonna go with Mississippi State (+4) to keep the good vibes going with a win at SOUTH CAROLINA.
Cole Sullivan
So it begins: Jared Curtis will start against NC State. The Dogpack sorta stinks but we haven’t exactly been shocking the world so far this season. I fear the unknown but still think we’ll have the better team. If I’m wrong, oh well, it can’t be worse than when I was a student.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 27, NC State, 24
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: Mississippi State really took it to Minnesota last week: Clangah may be sorta good. Game Penis has not proven anything and honestly I just don’t like them. I think State wins late, maybe by 10.
