The Return Of A 2008 Superhero
In my mind, nobody faces a harder debut to top than Russell Wilson.
The NC State quarterback saved the Pack’s season in 2008 after he emerged as the fulltime starter. How does 17 touchdown passes against one pick sound? Or the duel threat of another 600 yards rushing the ball? When the season began, the Pack’s offense could not cross the street. By season’s end, it arguably was the most explosive in the league. With Wilson pulling the triggers the Pack closed with four resounding wins to rally into a bowl. Want an eye catching stat: NC State covered the spread in all eight ACC games last and went 10-3 ATS.
Thats where this story gets a bit personal. I had hit a rough patch in late October and one of the few winners that kept popping up was this quietly jelling Wolfpack team I took some small hunches on. When some favorable matchups fell their way in November against UNC and Miami, I pounced hard and won big. I spent the entire holiday season in a state of arousal in anticipation of playing them, eventually placing and winning my biggest bet of the season.
See Wilson didnt just save North Carolina State’s season, but he saved mine. He became the hero of the 2008 season, Tebow, Bradford and McCoy be damned. He has enough firepower around him at the skill positions and three starters returning up front. I have been counting the days to see what kind of next step this kid is going to take. I think he’s a showstopper.
I dont doubt Wilson’s ability to provide an encore from an individual standpoint. But, I do for the team. I fear the defense will let them down, especially with the loss of LB Nate Irving who will miss the season after a summer car accident. He was every much the irreplacable MVP as Wilson was on the offensive side of the ball. That could be the storyline tonight and for much of the ACC season. Can this defense hold up and get enough stops to allow the playmaking of Russell to win out? We’ll be grading them all season to see if the can become a competent stop unit without Irving. If they can, then there will be some compelling stakes on the table during the November conference run.
Tonight also represents the debut of the target on their backs. They were the definition of under the radar team during their closing kick. Would you have answered yes if anyone had asked you today if NC State was even a bowl team last year? Thats not going to be the case this season. Just look at tonight when they’re 5-point chalk after catching double digits against the Cocks last year. They’ve only been favored in three games the last two seasons. This season they could be chalk in up to 9 or 10 games and likely in every one until a Halloween night trip to Talahassee to take on the Noles.
Here’s how the slate stacks up immediatley after the opener: Murray State, Gardner Webb, Pitt, at Wake, Duke and at BC. The Pack is better than all those teams. The two league road games look tough on paper but the Deacons and Eagles look to be in rebuilding mode. It’s not a stretch to see this team 7-0 going into that.
Thats what puts more import on this game tonight. South Carolina, despite all its open inconsistencies over the years, is typically a feisty out early in the season and the hardest challenge of any on the first half of State’s schedule. I am not not sure what to make of South Carolina. That could gel and with the right breaks finish as high as second place in the SEC East. Or they could crater amid quarterback and defensive implosions like they’ve done the last couple of years and fall into the division cellar. 50/50. Tonight, we’ll find out which way those scales may tip for South Carolina.
South Carolina’s hopes will rest with Stephen Garcia, whose career so far as been a two bit soap opera highlighted by inconsistent to lousy play. Gurus rated him among the best dual threat quarterbacks in 2007, so he has the talent. But does he have it. Especially with an offense that is breaking in new primary tailbacks and wideouts. I expect this offense to be ugly until proven otherwise.
Despite the fact Steve Spurrier has never raised South Carolina above their standard place in the league pecking order, it should be noted he has not had a losing season in the Palmetto State. That could be in jeopardy tonight with a lose. Contrast the Pack’s easy slate after tonight with what South Carolina has to face. They still travel to Georgia and host Ole Miss before September is out. They need to grab winnable games, like tonight, when they’re on the table. Their back half os loaded with road trips to Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas and home game with Florida and Clemson. Thats not the slate you need if you’re trying to crawl out of an early season hole. With a loss tonight, South Carolina may be chasing all season long. And that might be a tough chore to overcome for the Ball Coach’s team.
LINKS/NEWS/NOTES
The inimitable Smart Football decronstructs the decline of Steve Spurrier Football in his compelling two-part series: Part One, Part Two
You know the season is back underway when SB Nation Bloggers swap questions and previews about each other. NC State Blogger Backing The Pack and South Carolina’s Garnett And Black Attack share intell.
Both teams will be without a key defensive cog tonight. South Carolina will be without the services of projected starting DT Clifton Geathers, who will be serving a one-game suspension in the wake of a late night altercation in a bar last month. Meanwhile, the Pack will be without nickel corner DeAndre Morgan, who has a leg injury.
Currently, NC St is favored by 5 points. The line opened at 3 and has been steadily growing in the Pack’s favor all summer. The O/U total is 46. Place your bets accordingly.
