Phil D’Abbraccio: Syracuse 21, N.C. State 13
Hopin’ for Raleigh
Maybe the family-weekend environment adds a little more juice to a Carrier Dome that otherwise doesn’t have much to be enthused about. Despite Scott Shafer’s comparison, N.C. State’s Jacoby Brissett isn’t Ben Roethlisberger, so the Orange’s defense should have a few chances to pounce on a turnover — as it’s done all season. And SU’s red-zone problems have to stop at some point, right? But if Syracuse’s offense rolls on like a wagon wheel, it won’t be a particularly smooth ride.

Jesse Dougherty: N.C. State 28, Syracuse 20
Wolfed down
Syracuse didn’t get into the red zone against Clemson so the problems there didn’t persist last week. Now they’ll pick up where they left off. I see this one staying within one score the whole way, but the Orange’s inability to punch it in doesn’t get any easier with Ashton Broyld and Brisly Estime out.

Jacob Klinger: Syracuse 24, N.C. State 21
Howlin’ for (S)U
The Orange and the Wolfpack’s offenses are pretty similarly OK at best, but the SU defense gives AJ Long and Co. too many chances to win for Syracuse to not. In front of the family-friendly crowd SU outcrawls N.C. State, leaving the Carrier Dome faithful barking at the moon or whatever the roof is made of.