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NC State- Not That Bad?

Nov 6, 2007 – 12:04 AM
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Ian Cohen

Ian Cohen %BloggerTitle%

At one point, we had to wonder whether East Carolina deserved to be an ACC team more than a good portion of actual ACC teams. And as far as NC State...although you could usually rely on Tom O'Brien for the most joyless 7-9 win seasons possibly, the Wolfpack looked to regress even further from the Chuck Amato teams that seemed to embody the worst aspects of Florida State teams of the '90s.

But you have to wonder if the Pack are turning things around way faster than expected. Following a convincing win against ECU, they managed to beat Virginia at their own game by scoring a late touchdown to seal a close win. And now, even though the Orange Bowl isn't the forbidding Miami enclave it used to be, beating them in OT would have to constitute a huge leap forward for the Pack. Well, it wasn't pretty, but NC State is now putting themselves in position for an unthinkable bowl bid, moving to 4-5 with a win against Miami, due in no small part to Kyle Freeman's astounding 1-14, 3 INT performance at QB.

Granted, they were outgained by Miami and needed a flubbed 27-yard field goal in OT to get it done, but you can't argue with a +3 turnover margin on the road. Better yet, look at the remaining schedule: a homer against the promising, but inconsistent UNC, a trip to nearby Wake Forest and closing out against the reeling Maryland Terrapins. 6-6 is probable, but 7-5 is even possible, resulting in likely the most appreciated trip to Boise we've seen in some time.
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