Canes Looking To Tame Wolfpack At Sun Life
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – When the North Carolina State Wolfpack take the field at Sun Life Stadium Saturday for a rare matchup with the Miami Hurricanes, it will be a battle of two teams looking to extend winning streaks.
NC State is looking for its four-game winning streak since 2010, while The U is looking to win three straight games for the first time since 2009. Additionally, the Canes are looking for their first 3-0 start in conference play for the first time since 2004.
The Canes are coming off wins over Bethune-Cookman and a thrilling overtime win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets last weekend. The Canes came blew a 19-0 lead and then rallied from a 17-point deficit to knock off the Rambling Wreck in Atlanta.
NC State started off the season with a loss against Tennessee before knocking off Connecticut, South Alabama, and the Citadel.
The Wolpack sport one of the stingiest defenses in the country. According to cfbstats.com, the Wolfpack are giving up just 15.8 points per game, which is good enough for 27th in the country. NC State's defense is giving up 119 yards on the ground and 325.8 yards in total offense per game.
ACC teams have been playing eight league games — five against divisional opponents, one "primary crossover" opponent (it's North Carolina for N.C. State, and Florida State for Miami) and then two rotating opponents from the opposite division.
Miami has played N.C. State only three times since joining the ACC in 2004, winning just one.
Miami's offense has at times been great and really bad at others. The Canes are averaging 33.5 points per game, which is ranked 47th in the nation. While head coach Al Golden would like to run the football, his ground game is averaging just 159 yards per game, 69th in the nation.
The game comes a week after the Canes mounted a historic comeback in Atlanta against a tough Georgia Tech team. The Canes offense began clicking in the second half, but the team built a big lead, gave up a lead, and then came back to win in the overtime period.
Canes fans hope between Duke Johnson and the momentum from last week is enough to overcome the Wolfpack. Just don't get used to seeing NC State on the UM schedule. Due to the scheduling quirks, the Canes won't play NC State until 2016.
One thing to watch for in the game on Saturday is NC State will be without both of its starting offensive tackles Saturday. Right tackle Andrew Wallace has a foot injury and left tackle Rob Crisp has missed the entire season to this point with a back injury.
That could open the door for the Canes to try to turn up the pass rush against the Wolfpack.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
