Syracuse Football: N.C. State defense is porous, too, but it stifled Liberty

Syracuse football will next host N.C. State this Saturday, and the Wolfpack is fairly sub-par on defense.

If there is something to get slightly excited about as it pertains to the Syracuse football home finale versus N.C. State this coming Saturday afternoon, it’s the fact that the Wolfpack is nearly as bad as the Orange on defense in the 2020 term.

That being said, this past Saturday in Raleigh, N.C., the Wolfpack held an explosive Liberty offense to just 279 total yards. N.C. State came away with a thrilling 15-14 victory over No. 21 and previously undefeated Liberty after a Wolfpack defender blocked a 39-yard field-goal attempt by the Flames with 1:20 remaining in the non-conference collision at Carter-Finley Stadium.

More than a month ago, Liberty traveled to the Hill and pummeled the ‘Cuse 38-21, giving the Flames their inaugural success against an Atlantic Coast Conference crew. In the process, Liberty racked up 520 yards of total offense versus the Orange.

The Wolfpack defense put forth an impressive showing in its bout with the Flames, whereas Syracuse football (1-8) looked absolutely dreadful in a 30-0 drubbing on the road at the hands of Louisville.

Now N.C. State (6-3), presently fifth in the ACC standings and certainly having positioned itself for a post-season bowl berth, will make the trip to Central New York.

The Wolfpack, which secured 12 votes in this week’s Coaches top-25 poll, and the ‘Cuse will battle beginning at noon on Saturday from the Carrier Dome, with television coverage on the ACC Network. At this juncture, N.C. State is roughly a two-touchdown favorite.

Syracuse football, hopefully, can muster some points on Saturday against a pedestrian N.C. State defense.

Per ESPN statistics, the Wolfpack allows 31.7 points per contest, along with 436.8 total yards, 266.2 passing yards and 170.6 rushing yards. Conversely, the Orange gives up 31.0 points a game, 458.6 total yards, 245.0 passing yards and an awful 213.6 rushing yards.

So from a defensive perspective, one would think that the ‘Cuse has a shot to hang around with N.C. State, because the Wolfpack isn’t so hot on defense.

However, stats don’t always tell the whole story, as N.C. State most recently fared extremely well versus Liberty, while the Orange got totally smoked by the Flames last month.

Additionally, the Wolfpack may have an average defense, but N.C. State is able to generate sizable offense. The ‘Cuse, time and time again in the 2020 stanza, has proven that it cannot. For instance, the Wolfpack scores 31.4 points per affair, and Syracuse football produces a paltry 16.2 points a game.

Switching back to the N.C. State defense, three players on that side of the field got named Players of the Week by the ACC after the team upset Liberty. They are defensive end Daniel Joseph, linebacker Isaiah Moore and cornerback Aydan White.