Syracuse vs. NC State: Orange Open As 5-Point Favorites

If the game between the Syracuse Orange and N.C. State Wolfpack had been played in late September, the Wolfpack might have been favored by 7-8 points. Four games later and the Orange will enter the game as the favorites.

College football is weird.

The Orange open as 5-point favorites for the Saturday, November 1 meeting in the Carrier Dome at 3:00 p.m.

NC State comes into the game with a 4-4 record, riding a four-game losing streak, all of which took place in ACC play. After a strong start against an extremely weak non-conference schedule, the Wolfpack appeared to be the decent team so many ACC writers predicted they'd be. And after four games against ACC opponents, not so much. That includes a performance against Florida State much better than ours and a performance against Clemson much worse than ours. Go figure.

Syracuse is looking at the final four games of the season as a three-wins-or-bust scenario. The good news for them is that they're through the gauntlet of Notre Dame, Louisville, FSU and Clemson. The bad news is that Syracuse is only as good as they allow themselves to be, and that's not a dependable situation. NC State looks like a beatable opponent but then again maybe not.