2025 Week 12 Predictions - NC State vs UNC: the grumpy old man bowl
- Essad Malik
- 43 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Recap from Week 11 vs FSU
It doesn't matter what condition Florida State is in, it always feels good to get a win over those Noles. Carter-Finley continues to be their kryptonite, especially for night games. The offense looked quite good, though not great, but the defense looked especially stout. It's this piece that is the most encouraging going into today's matchup with UNC.
Updated look at the team's predictions against their preseason picks week over week.
Schedule | ESPN Predicto-Bot | Alec Lower | Essad Malik | Trey Lower | Jackson Williford | Actual Results |
Week 1 (Thu, 8/28) vs ECU Preseason pick | 69.7% - 30.3% (W) | 37-24 (W) | 28-20 (W) | 24-20 (W) | 38-21 (W) | |
During season pick | 69.7% - 30.3% (W) | 37-24 (W) | 31-21 (W) | 24-20 (W) | 38-21 (W) | 24-17 (W) |
Week 2 (9/6) vs UVA (Non-Conference) | 64.2% - 35.8% (W) | 29-24 (W) | 27-19 (W) | 23-16 (W) | 31-24 (W) | |
During season pick | 48.6% - 51.4% (L) | 20-21 (L) | 27-24 (W) | 30-26 (W) | 27-24 (W) | 35-31 (W) |
Week 3 (Thu, 9/11) vs WtFU | 66.7% - 33.3% (W) | 33-7 (W) | 17-20 (L) | 35-20 (W) | 35-20 (W) | |
During season pick | 74.2% - 25.8% (W) | 38-17 (W) | 34-31 (W) | 31-28 (W) | 31-21 (W) | 34-24 (W) |
Week 4 (9/20) @ Duke | 37.3% - 62.7% (L) | 23-35 (L) | 13-37 (L) | 14-28 (L) | 21-28 (L) | |
During season pick | 50.3% - 49.7% (W) | 33-38 (L) | 27-35 (L) | 31-28 (W) | 27-30 (L) | 33-45 (L) |
Week 5 (9/27) vs VT | 37.3% - 62.7% (L) | 34-41 (L) | 27-24 (W) | 35-31 (W) | 28-24 (W) | |
During season pick | 64.9% - 35.1% (W) | 45-20 (W) | 37-27 (W) | 38-17 (W) | 38-27 (W) | 21-23 (L) |
Week 6 (10/4) vs Campbell | 99% - 1% (W) | 50-10 (W) | 42-17 (W) | 63-7 (W) | 45-14 (W) | |
During season pick | 98.9% - 1.1% (W) | 41-10 (W) | 37-17 (W) | 41-21 (W) | 56-10 (W) | |
Week 7 (10/11) @ ND | 9% - 91% (L) | 13-42 (L) | 10-37 (L) | 0-35 (L) | 14-38 (L) | |
During season pick | 7.7% - 92.3% (L) | 20-52 (L) | 24-45 (L) | 20-63 (L) | 21-48 (L) | 7-36 (L) |
Week 8 (10/25) @ Pitt | 46.8% - 53.2% (L) | 35-28 (W) | 24-28 (L) | 20-21 (L) | 31-35 (L) | |
During season pick | 32.7% - 67.3% (L) | 24-30 (L) | 23-33 (L) | 24-28 (L) | 27-34 (L) | 34-53 (L) |
Week 9 (11/1) vs GT | 42.2% - 57.8% (L) | 31-24 (W) | 23-21 (W) | 30-27 (W) | 30-31 (L) | |
During season pick | 28.9% - 71.1% (L) | 21-26 (L) | 17-37 (L) | 23-27 (L) | 24-38 (L) | 48-36 (W) |
Week 10 (11/15) @ Miami | 16.6% - 83.4% (L) | 42-45 (L) | 37-31 (W) | 21-45 (L) | 21-38 (L) | |
During season pick | 11.7% - 88.3% (L) | 20-38 (L) | 31-45 (L) | 17-38 (L) | 21-38 (L) | 7-41 (L) |
Week 11 (Fri, 11/21) vs FSU | 62% - 38% (W) | 23-20 (W) | 24-22 (W) | 28-17 (W) | 34-31 (W) | |
During season pick | 30.5% - 69.5% (L) | 27-38 (L) | 23-37 (L) | 24-21 (W) | 34-31 (W) | 21-11 (W) |
Week 12 (11/29) vs unc | 58% - 42% (W) | 84-2 (W) | 17-37 (L) | 93285 - -234 (W) (yes, that's a negative score) | 28-27 (W) | |
78.4% - 21.6 (W) | 100-1 (W) | 29-25 (W) | 13-10 (W) |
How well do these predictions add up for the season so far?
Actual Record to Date = 6-5 | ESPN Predicto-Bot | Alec Lower | Essad Malik | Trey Lower | Jackson Williford |
Preseason Predicted Record to Date | 5 - 6 | 7 - 4 | 7 - 4 | 7 - 4 | 6 - 5 |
Incorrect Picks | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
During Season Predicted Record to Date | 5 - 6 | 4 - 7 | 6 - 5 | 7 - 4 | 6 - 5 |
Incorrect Picks | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Predictions: Week 12 vs UNC - 11/29/25
Night game on Thanksgiving weekend against your archrival, what could go wrong??
Much has been made about what Dave Doeren and Billy B will do after this season. At many times this season, these older gentlemen have seemed quite grumpy with literally everything and everyone. Bill Belichick, especially, has become what the kids these days refer to as "unc". That seems fitting, UNC is now unc.
They might be on quit-watch, but never underestimate the power of this game to produce supremely wonky outcomes.
NC State is now sitting at 6-5. Finishing the regular season 7-5 with a win over the archrival and a chance for 8 wins in a bowl is the classic Dave Deoren story arc, and it works every time. Snatching a perfectly satisfactory season from what seemed like a surefire dumpster fire after a 1-3 stretch is one of Doeren's best skills as a coach. A win allows the fans to end the season on a positive note as we turn our attentions fully towards basketball.
And now, on to our Week 12 predictions!
Name | Prediction | Comments |
ESPN Predicto-Bot | 78.4% - 21.6 (W) | Grew from 58%-42% in the preseason. |
Alec Lower | 100-1 (W) | Go Pack |
Essad Malik | 29-25 (W) | An odd score for what will assuredly be an odd game. Can't wait! |
Trey Lower | 13-10 (W) | One of the football games of all time. GTHC! |
Jackson Williford | 24-13 (W) | Cook these frauds. I'm not sure UNC has enough "care" left in the tank for this one. |
So, what do you think will happen this week? Let us know in the comments below, and respond in the poll with your pick!
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AI Image of the Week
Apparently, if you ask AI to generate images of one character about to cause harm or put another character in imminent danger, it doesn't like that? I mean, that's probably for the best for society as a whole, but not so much for me trying to have wolves attacking a helpless baby ram. I gave it very specific instructions, and it created a set of four very different rosy pictures.

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