Both Florida State and North Carolina State began their football seasons with high hopes but are now battling just to qualify for a bowl game. When they face off Friday night at 8 p.m. ET, one team is guaranteed to secure that milestone. The game will be nationally broadcast from Carter-Finley Stadium.
Florida State (5-5) grabbed headlines early by upsetting Alabama 31-17 as two-touchdown underdogs in Week 1, erasing memories of last year’s poor two-win season and sparking dreams of an ACC championship and playoff berth. However, that victory remains their season highlight. Following a double-overtime loss to Virginia and a narrow defeat by favored Stanford, the Seminoles have only won two of their last three games and still trail Stanford in ACC standings.
On the other hand, North Carolina State (5-5) initially emerged as a surprise contender in the ACC with wins over East Carolina, Virginia, and Wake Forest—teams that have combined for a strong 23-8 record. Yet, the Wolfpack’s recent results don’t reflect that success, having lost three of their last four games by roughly 29 points on average, including a heavy 41-7 defeat to Miami. Their only win in that stretch was a high-scoring upset of undefeated Georgia Tech, showcasing both their high potential and inconsistency.
Florida State is favored by 6.5 points to win, with betting odds setting the over/under at 59.5 points. Despite both teams averaging a combined 66+ points per game and high scoring in recent wins, a predictive model suggests a closer final score around 30-25, favoring the under bet with a 61% chance to hit versus the sportsbook’s 52%.
Aside from college football, there are previews for NBA and NHL games on this Friday night. Notably, the Winnipeg Jets face the Carolina Hurricanes at 8 p.m. in Winnipeg on ESPN+ and Fubo, with the Jets seen as underdog +127 but having momentum after recent scoring improvements, while the Hurricanes hold a strong home record but recently lost a game to Minnesota.
In the NBA, the Denver Nuggets play the Houston Rockets at 9:30 p.m., streamed on Prime Video and Fubo. The Rockets are slight favorites and both teams are known for strong defense, but the model predicts a high-scoring contest totaling over 234.5 points.
Fan Take: For hockey fans, the Jets vs. Hurricanes game offers an intriguing clash where underdog momentum meets home advantage, potentially shaking up expectations in the NHL standings. This matchup could highlight the growing competitiveness and unpredictability of hockey, keeping fans engaged and excited for the season ahead.
