NC State Wolfpack vs Virginia Cavaliers Prediction, 8/29/2026 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: NC State Wolfpack vs Virginia Cavaliers

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026

Location: Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Cavaliers (-5.5)

Total/Over-Under: 53.5

The NC State Wolfpack (8-5 last season) are headed to Scott Stadium on Saturday, August 29, 2026 where they will try to beat the Virginia Cavaliers (11-3 last year). NC State opens as 5.5-point underdogs. The over/under has been set at 53.5.

The NC State Wolfpack ended the year with a 8-5 record. The last time they stepped onto the field, the Wolfpack took the field against the Memphis Tigers and walked away with a win by a score of 31-7. In all, they had 59 plays for 337 yards. The NC State Wolfpack ended up running the ball 33 different times and totaled 116 yds, which is an average of 3.5 yards per attempt. Against the run, the Wolfpack conceded 149 yds on 36 tries, which is 4.1 yards per run allowed. NC State surrendered 20 completions on 34 tries for 154 yards, and a completion rate of 58.8%.

The Wolfpack tallied 5,086 total yards for the previous season. NC State totaled 26 passing touchdowns and 27 rushing touchdowns. They gave the ball to the opposition 13 times. NC State tallied 264 1st downs, and they were hurt by 72 infractions for 699 yds. As a unit they held an average of 145.5 yards in the run game, which was 81st in D-1. When it comes to getting in the endzone, the NC State Wolfpack were sitting at 30.2 points per outing.

The Wolfpack were ranked 83rd in the country when it comes to team defense, giving up 27.2 PPG. They gave up 4.3 yards per rushing attempt and 138.8 rushing yards per game last year. Overall, they conceded 1,804 running yards through 13 outings. Regarding yards through the air, the Wolfpack gave up 3,552 yds which had them ranked 133rd in college football. Over the course of their 13 games played last season, they allowed 273.2 yards per game through the air in addition to relinquishing a completion percentage of 62.7%. They granted 411.9 yards/game which had them sitting 111th in the nation. They allowed 22 throwing touchdowns as well as 17 running touchdowns.

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The Cavaliers ended the season having earned a 11-3 record. In their last game, the Cavaliers walked away with a victory by a final of 13-7 when they played the Missouri Tigers. Virginia ended up running for 2.7 yards per attempt, finishing the game with 110 yds on 41 attempts. The Cavaliers finished the game with 308 yds on 79 plays (3.9 yds per play). The Cavaliers pass defense conceded a completion rate of 52.2%, surrendering 101 yards on 12 for 23 through the air. Virginia conceded 32 running attempts for 159 yds (5.0 yds per rush).

Regarding how much they scored, the Cavaliers were ranked 37th in the country by scoring 30.8 PPG. The Virginia Cavaliers maintained an average of 417.9 yards per outing, which was good for 29th in college football. The Virginia offense compiled 633 yards of penalties on 76 infractions, which was 74th in college football in terms of making mistakes. They tossed 10 picks while losing 4 fumbles and they tallied 302 1st downs. Last season, the Cavaliers racked up 3,347 passing yards not to mention an average of 239.1 passing yards per outing, which ranked 56th in the nation. They averaged 178.7 yards via the ground game and rushed for 2,502 yards for the season.

The Cavaliers allowed 19.6 PPG, which put them in 22nd in the country. Virginia gave up a total of 1,595 yards rushing (113.9 yards per outing) as well as 17 touchdowns via the rush last year. They surrendered 15 touchdowns through the air and 195.6 yards per game, ranking them 33rd in college football. The Cavaliers defense participated in 876 plays, which ranked them 92nd in the country. Their defense compiled 7 fumbles recovered and 14 picks for the previous season. Over the course of the season, they relinquished 274 total points.

Who will win tonight's Wolfpack/Cavaliers college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Wolfpack +5.5

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