The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1389905
JULY/AUGUST 2021 ■ 17 TRACKING THE PACK www.systemscontractors.com Since 1977, Systems Contractors, Inc. has provided Industrial & Commercial HVAC Services throughout the Southeast. Call us today to learn more. 336.763.8969 • Commercial and Industrial HVAC • Design/Build • Piping • Custom Metal Fabrication • Service and Maintenance Contracts • Custom AHU's and Packaged Plants • Engineering Services • Energy Studies Q U A L I T Y • E F F I C I E N C Y • I N N O V AT I O N CHARTING THE PACK Preseason Previews Make Pack A Consensus Pick To Finish Second In ACC Atlantic NC State enters the 2021 campaign with the most preseason excitement the program has had since the summer of 2018. Entering 2018, the Wolfpack was coming off of a 9-4 record in 2017 in which it finished second in the ACC Atlantic Division standings and 23rd in the final Associated Press poll. The Pack went on to win nine games for the second consecutive season in 2018, but finished in third place of the ACC Atlantic. Now coming off of an 8-4 mark in which NC State finished tied for third in the overall ACC standings and won a program-record seven conference games, the expectation this summer is for the Pack to match or improve upon last year's success. Athlon Sports, Lindy's and Phil Steele all project the Wolfpack to finish in second place of the ACC Atlantic Division in their respective 2021 college football pre- view magazines. With 19 returning starters, NC State is forecasted to be a better overall team than it was last year, but this season's schedule is also much tougher. According to Phil Steele, the Pack's strength of schedule ranked 62nd among FBS teams in 2020. Its 2021 schedule, however, is the 48th toughest in the country according to the publication's preseason strength of schedule rankings. Phil Steele also ranks the Wolfpack's 2021 schedule to be the fifth-most underrated among FBS teams when comparing the publication's forecast model to the NCAA's, which solely predicts strength of schedule based on last year's winning percentages. — Justin H. Williams NC State And Its Opponents In 1-130 National FBS Rankings Team Athlon Lindy's Phil Steele Avg. Clemson 2 2 3 2.3 North Carolina 10 9 14 11 Miami 14 14 17 15 NC State 38 40 28 35.3 Mississippi State 49 46 33 42.7 Wake Forest 46 48 36 43.3 Florida State 43 51 52 48.7 Boston College 42 54 54 50 Louisville 45 74 65 61.3 Syracuse 86 91 84 87 Louisiana Tech 101 77 103 93.7 South Florida 100 114 108 107.3 Furman N/A N/A N/A N/A