.png)
2025 Week 3 Predictions - NC State @ Wake Forest
- Essad Malik
- Sep 11
- 4 min read
Recap from Last Week, Week 2 vs UVA
2-0 has a much better ring to it than 1-1. CJ Bailey had one of, if not the, best performances for NC State. It was one of those weird games where State came back in the second half, and even though it was tense, Bailey, Hollywood Smothers, and the rest of the offense gave a surprising confidence that they'd pull it out. NC State has now played two solid teams to start the season, giving it some good tests of battle readiness. Here's hoping they can win just a tad more comfortably, as one possession games are quite nerve racking.
Leave a comment down below if the following table is confusing to read. We're going to track 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) | |
Week 4 (9/20) @ Duke | 37.3% - 62.7% (L) | 23-35 (L) | 13-37 (L) | 14-28 (L) | 21-28 (L) | |
Week 5 (9/27) vs VT | 37.3% - 62.7% (L) | 34-41 (L) | 27-24 (W) | 35-31 (W) | 28-24 (W) | |
Week 6 (10/4) vs Campbell | 99% - 1% (W) | 50-10 (W) | 42-17 (W) | 63-7 (W) | 45-14 (W) | |
Week 7 (10/11) @ ND | 9% - 91% (L) | 13-42 (L) | 10-37 (L) | 0-35 (L) | 14-38 (L) | |
Week 8 (10/25) @ Pitt | 46.8% - 53.2% (L) | 35-28 (W) | 24-28 (L) | 20-21 (L) | 31-35 (L) | |
Week 9 (11/1) vs GT | 42.2% - 57.8% (L) | 31-24 (W) | 23-21 (W) | 30-27 (W) | 30-31 (L) | |
Week 10 (11/15) @ Miami | 16.6% - 83.4% (L) | 42-45 (L) | 37-31 (W) | 21-45 (L) | 21-38 (L) | |
Week 11 (Fri, 11/21) vs FSU | 62% - 38% (W) | 23-20 (W) | 24-22 (W) | 28-17 (W) | 34-31 (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) | |
How well do these predictions add up for the season so far?
Actual Record to Date = 2-0 | ESPN Predicto-Bot | Alec Lower | Essad Malik | Trey Lower | Jackson Williford |
Preseason Predicted Record to Date | 2 - 0 | 2 - 0 | 2 - 0 | 2 - 0 | 2 - 0 |
Incorrect Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
During Season Predicted Record to Date | 1 - 1 | 1 - 1 | 2 - 0 | 2 - 0 | 2 - 0 |
Incorrect Picks | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Week 3 vs Wake Forest - Thu, 9/11/25
You know what has an even better sound than 2-0? 3-0! In order to do that, back to Winston-Salem we go, NC State fans' least favorite venue in the world. NC State is currently favored by 6.5 on the road, which means it will definitely be another one possession game, because of course. Wake Forest squeaked by (checks notes) Kennessaw State after going up 10-9 in the third quarter and hanging on with score to the end. Then they beat the brakes off of WCU 42-10. Before you scoff at that opponent, remember that NC State skated a bit nervously by WCU in last year's opener with a score of 38-21.
Is Wake Forest good, or is Kennessaw good, or somewhere in the middle? Probably the latter, but NC State has had a bad habit of giving up explosive running plays. What's that? Wake Forest has arguably the best running back in the league??
Demond Claiborne might be third in total rush yards (212) in the conference behind Louisville's Isaac Brown (230) and NC State's own Smothers (216). But he's blowing everyone away with a staggering 16.3 yards/carry of anyone with 10 or more carries. Now, he only has 13 carries while Hollywood has 39, but that doesn't fit the narrative I'm trying to make of this guy being a terrifying threat. He still is, but NC State should (read: should) be able to contain him, and if they can then should be able to have made it a quarter of the season undefeated.
And now, on to our Week 3 predictions!
Name | Prediction | Comments |
ESPN Predicto-Bot | 74.2% - 25.8% (W) | This went up from preseason, which was 66.7% - 33.3% |
Alec Lower | 38-17 (W) | State sustains offense. Wake finds a couple explosive runs. State pulls away in the second half. |
Essad Malik | 34-31 (W) | The house of horrors rears its head, as a shootout ensues. But NC State has just too much firepower compared to what Wake has, and makes one extra play to win. |
Trey Lower | 31-28 (W) | Everyone is expecting State to go in there and run away with it. But its Wake on a short week at their place. State again needs a goal line stand to win after a 250 yard night from Demond Claiborne. |
Jackson Williford | 31-21 (W) | I don't think much of Wake, but I do think highly of Demond Claiborne. He'll hit explosives, but not enough for Wake to cover. |
So, what do you think will happen this week? Let us know in the comments below, and respond in the poll with your pick!
Who do you think will win?
NC State Wolfpack
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
AI Image of the Week
This week's image wasn't nearly as great as last week's, that was an all timer. But this time, we do have. the classic AI 6 finger hands. A dead giveaway of AI slop. Clankers gotta do better, or don't so we can keep making fun of you.
