This week's picks

California vs. NC State Prediction and Pick, Week 9 2026

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Data updatedOct 31, 2026
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Picks two teams at random. Any FBS team can come up.

How we picked it

How we picked it

Three ratings look at a team in three different ways. The numbers' pick is the team at least two of them favor.

Where the game is won

Where the game is won

Each row puts one team's unit against the unit it faces, by national rank out of all FBS teams. An edge is a gap of 25 spots or more.

Ratings: SP+ via CFB Update; PRIME via primecfb.com. Box and play stats computed from CollegeFootballData.com play data (via the public cfbfastR files), FBS games only for scoring. Rushing yards here exclude sacks, so they run higher than official totals. Ranks are out of 138 FBS teams.

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California at NC State

Week 9, Sat, Oct 31, 12:00 PM ET, Carter-Finley Stadium.

The numbers say: NC State, 77% to win.

The game

KickoffSat, Oct 31, 12:00 PM ET
TVACC Network
WhereCarter-Finley Stadium
Weather66°, cloudy, wind 8 mph
LineNC State −9.5, total 56.5
Line movementOpened NC State −8.5; moved 1 point toward NC State.
SeriesNC State leads 1–0
Last meetingNC State 24–23 in 2024

The ratings and the line

MarginWin chanceTotal
SP+NC State by 9.876%62
PRIMENC State by 9.776%
EloNC State84%
The lineNC State −9.5, opened −8.556.5

Margins include home field. SP+ is Bill Connelly's rating; Sources has PRIME and Elo. Line and total from DraftKings, as of Fri, Oct 30, 7:43 PM ET.

Who wins, California or NC State?

The numbers say: NC State. 78% chance to win

Which matchups decide California vs. NC State?

All three ratings favor NC State, by 9.7 to 9.8 points. NC State's best matchup is its run game, 58th in yards per carry, against California's run defense at 132nd. California's way back in is its pass protection, 23rd in sacks allowed per dropback, against NC State's pass rush at 93rd.

California with the ball

NC State with the ball

Who's out for California and NC State?

California

NC State

How California and NC State compare, in charts

Each chart puts all 138 FBS teams on two stats; California and NC State are lit. Dashed lines are the FBS averages, and up and right is better. Ranks in parentheses. Games through Oct 24, 2026.

How California's and NC State's players compare

The scatter charts show the top 40 FBS players at the position by both stats combined, plus the players lit here. Dashed lines are the averages; up and right is better. Ranks are among every FBS player at the position with enough snaps. Takeaways are interceptions plus fumble recoveries. Games through Oct 24, 2026.

How do SP+, PRIME and Elo rate California and NC State?

On a neutral field, SP+ has NC State 7.3 points better (74th to 101st). PRIME also has NC State ahead, by 7.2. Elo, which only sees results, also has NC State ahead (75th to 118th).

CaliforniaNC State
SP+ overall-8.2 (101st)-0.9 (74th)
SP+ offense22.8 (101st)30.0 (46th)
SP+ defense30.5 (103rd)31.0 (107th)
SP+ special teams-0.5 (124th)0.1 (54th)
PRIME net-10.2 (109th)-3.0 (85th)
PRIME offense-6.44 (111th)2.33 (43rd)
PRIME defense-3.56 (100th)-6.03 (113th)
PRIME SOS1.7 (29th)-0.5 (48th)
PRIME SOR-0.7 (89th)-0.6 (85th)
Elo1236 (118th)1465 (75th)

Opponent-adjusted power ratings. These drive the projection.

Who's better once you adjust for the schedule?

California's offense ranks 131st in adjusted EPA per play, and the NC State defense it faces ranks 121st in EPA per play allowed. NC State's offense ranks 70th against California's 117th-ranked defense. The matchup that decides it is NC State's offense against California's defense. The biggest edge on the board is NC State's passing game: 38th in adjusted EPA per pass, against California's 77th-ranked defense. Adjust for opponents and NC State's offense falls from 30th to 70th in EPA per play: a lot of that came against soft defenses.

CaliforniaNC State
EPA per play (adjusted)−0.00 (131st)+0.10 (70th)
EPA per pass (adjusted)+0.11 (121st)+0.23 (38th)
EPA per rush (adjusted)−0.02 (127th)+0.00 (124th)
Success rate (adjusted)37.4% (122nd)41.1% (77th)
Success rate, standard downs (adjusted)42.6% (130th)45.1% (98th)
Success rate, passing downs (adjusted)28.8% (105th)33.0% (22nd)
Explosiveness (adjusted)0.93 (87th)0.91 (126th)
Line yards per carry (adjusted)2.63 (133rd)2.85 (103rd)
Open-field yards per carry (adjusted)0.89 (129th)0.96 (121st)
EPA per play allowed (adjusted)+0.18 (117th)+0.20 (121st)
EPA per pass allowed (adjusted)+0.21 (77th)+0.32 (130th)
EPA per rush allowed (adjusted)+0.18 (135th)+0.10 (102nd)
Success rate allowed (adjusted)41.1% (56th)44.9% (108th)
Explosiveness allowed (adjusted)0.99 (134th)0.96 (113th)
Line yards allowed per carry (adjusted)3.20 (127th)2.98 (76th)
Open-field yards allowed per carry (adjusted)1.46 (132nd)1.30 (111th)

The same efficiency numbers, adjusted for the offenses and defenses each team has faced (CollegeFootballData.com). A good number against a soft schedule shrinks; one against a hard schedule grows.

Who's more efficient, California or NC State?

California is better throwing (113th in EPA per pass) than running (128th). NC State's pass defense ranks 130th. NC State is better throwing (12th in EPA per pass) than running (103rd). California's pass defense ranks 72nd, so that's a mismatch. On third down, NC State has the edge: its offense ranks 3rd in EPA per third-down play, and the defense it faces ranks 97th.

CaliforniaNC State
EPA per play−0.02 (125th)+0.22 (30th)
EPA per pass+0.08 (113th)+0.44 (12th)
EPA per rush−0.06 (128th)+0.02 (103rd)
EPA per 3rd-down play+0.44 (76th)+0.88 (3rd)
EPA per play allowed+0.18 (112th)+0.23 (120th)
EPA per pass allowed+0.18 (72nd)+0.41 (130th)
EPA per rush allowed+0.28 (133rd)+0.12 (94th)
EPA per 3rd-down play allowed+0.48 (97th)+0.34 (50th)

Expected points added per play, from CollegeFootballData.com. EPA measures how much each play changes the points a team can expect from the drive. Zero is break-even; +0.20 is very good. Not adjusted for opponents.

Who scores more, California or NC State?

California is outscored by 8.2 a game, and NC State by 4.2. California's offense ranks 101st in scoring, and the NC State defense it faces ranks 105th in points allowed. NC State's offense ranks 46th against California's 119th-ranked defense. The matchup that decides it is NC State's offense against California's defense.

CaliforniaNC State
Points scored23.4 (101st)32.3 (46th)
Points allowed31.6 (119th)28.1 (105th)

Per game, FBS opponents only.

Which offense has the edge?

California has no clear edge here. Its best is explosive play rate, 128th, against a defense ranked 136th in explosive plays allowed. NC State's best matchup is its run game: its offense ranks 58th in yards per carry, and California's defense ranks 132nd in yards per carry allowed. That's a mismatch.

CaliforniaNC State
Pass yards / game295.0 (13th)261.8 (39th)
Rush yards / game93.0 (134th)168.5 (65th)
Yards per play5.20 (124th)6.06 (76th)
Yards per carry3.68 (133rd)5.32 (58th)
Yards per attempt6.18 (117th)6.98 (95th)
Completion %59.2% (88th)58.2% (93rd)
Success rate36.4% (130th)43.2% (76th)
Explosive play rate9.0% (128th)11.5% (87th)
3rd down conversion34.1% (109th)45.6% (34th)
Sack rate (taken)3.3% (23rd)4.7% (45th)
INT rate (thrown)1.3% (29th)1.3% (30th)
SUPLEX45.1% (128th)54.2% (84th)

Per game and per play, from play-by-play.

Which defense has the edge?

Neither defense ranks 25 spots ahead of the offense it faces in any of these, so expect both offenses to look like themselves.

CaliforniaNC State
Pass yards allowed / game215.0 (74th)226.2 (96th)
Rush yards allowed / game177.3 (104th)169.8 (96th)
Yards per play allowed7.20 (131st)7.05 (127th)
Yards per carry allowed6.11 (132nd)5.66 (116th)
Yards per attempt allowed9.01 (121st)9.11 (122nd)
Success rate allowed44.5% (95th)47.5% (120th)
Explosive plays allowed15.8% (134th)16.6% (136th)
3rd downs allowed44.1% (108th)40.9% (89th)
Sack rate (generated)6.4% (64th)5.1% (93rd)
INT rate (generated)3.7% (26th)2.0% (82nd)
SUPLEX allowed56.5% (85th)66.3% (136th)

What opponents managed against them.

Who wins up front?

NC State has the better number in 11 of 12. The biggest gap is stuff rate (defense), where NC State ranks 40th and California 127th.

CaliforniaNC State
Big Uglies: offensive line39.3 (132nd)49.7 (77th)
Big Uglies: defensive front39.7 (126th)47.0 (89th)
Line yards per carry2.43 (134th)2.82 (106th)
Line yards allowed per carry3.32 (124th)2.99 (81st)
Second-level yards per carry0.92 (114th)0.90 (124th)
Open-field yards per carry0.53 (131st)1.07 (82nd)
Stuff rate (runs stopped at or behind the line)23.0% (126th)18.5% (85th)
Stuff rate (defense)13.5% (127th)20.9% (40th)
Power success (short yardage)56.5% (134th)75.8% (48th)
Power success allowed81.3% (122nd)75.0% (93rd)
Front-seven havoc allowed10.7% (108th)8.5% (48th)
Front-seven havoc7.2% (126th)7.5% (121st)

The lines. Big Uglies is our rating for each offensive line and each defensive front: adjusted line yards (30%), stuff rate (20%), power success (15%), sack rate (20%) and front-seven havoc (15%), against every FBS team. 50 is average, and every 10 points is a standard deviation. Line stats from CollegeFootballData.com, garbage time out.

Who wins the turnover battle?

Neither team has a real turnover edge: California is +0.1 a game and NC State −0.1. Fumble recoveries are mostly luck, and NC State's takeaways lean on them (0.7 of 1.1 a game).

CaliforniaNC State
Interceptions thrown / game0.63 (51st)0.57 (40th)
Fumbles lost / game0.38 (42nd)0.71 (99th)
Giveaways / game1.00 (36th)1.29 (72nd)
Interceptions / game0.88 (38th)0.43 (105th)
Fumbles recovered / game0.25 (113th)0.71 (24th)
Takeaways / game1.13 (81st)1.14 (67th)
Turnover margin / game+0.1 (64th)-0.1 (77th)

Per game, from play-by-play.

Which team has more talent?

NC State has the more talented roster (32nd in the 247Sports talent composite; California is 33rd). NC State also plays further above its talent: −6.8 points of SP+ beyond what its roster predicts, to California's −13.8.

CaliforniaNC State
Talent composite751.9 (33rd)757.1 (32nd)
Blue-chip ratio21.9% (37th)24.7% (34th)
Players on roster103 (119th)125 (8th)
Rated by 247Sports96 (6th)89 (29th)
5-star players0 (37th)0 (37th)
4-star players21 (32nd)22 (30th)
3-star players68 (37th)67 (45th)
Below 3-star7 (14th)0 (113th)
2026 transfers in32 (24th)20 (76th)
Transfer share33.3% (50th)22.5% (97th)
SP+ vs. talent-13.8 (131st)-6.8 (109th)
Returning production58.3% (43rd)59.9% (41st)
Returning passing production88.7% (47th)93.1% (39th)
Returning rushing production0.0% (113th)101.5% (16th)
Returning receiving production43.0% (60th)26.0% (91st)
2026 recruiting class (national rank)56 (56th)49 (49th)
Recruiting rank, last four classes64.8 (67th)38.2 (32nd)

247Sports team talent composite and 2026 transfer portal class. Star counts cover only the players 247Sports rates, not walk-ons, so they add up to less than the full roster. Ranks are out of all 138 FBS teams.

Which roster costs more?

NC State's roster is valued at $19.2M, California's at $19.1M. NC State also plays better per dollar: −5.2 points of SP+ above what its payroll predicts, to −12.4 for California.

CaliforniaNC State
Roster value$19.1M (60th)$19.2M (58th)
Roster cost per win$6.4M (48th)$6.4M (50th)
Projected wins per $1M0.17 (64th)0.30 (29th)
SP+ vs. payroll-12.4 (68th)-5.2 (53rd)

NIL roster value from The NIL Standard (power-conference teams plus Boise State and Oregon State). Ranks are out of 70 teams with a valuation.

Where did each team's wins come from?

California is −1.0 wins against a .500 team; the biggest piece is coaching (−2.1). NC State is −0.5 wins against a .500 team; the biggest piece is coaching (−1.0). California's record is running 0.9 wins ahead of its play on luck alone, so it's not as good as the record says.

CaliforniaNC State
RECEIPTS (total)-1.0 (109th)-0.5 (89th)
Schedule RECEIPTS-0.6 (117th)+0.2 (80th)
Roster RECEIPTS+0.9 (20th)+0.8 (24th)
Coach RECEIPTS-2.1 (135th)-1.0 (109th)
Luck RECEIPTS+0.9 (19th)-0.5 (100th)

Where the wins came from. Every team starts as a .500 team. Then each win (or loss) goes to the schedule, the roster, the coaching or luck, and the four add up to the real record. Wins above or below a .500 team.

California at NC State: questions people ask

California vs. NC State prediction: who will win?

The numbers pick NC State, 78% chance to win. All three ratings favor the same team. NC State's best matchup is its run game, 58th in yards per carry, against California's run defense at 132nd.

Where can I watch California vs. NC State, and what time is it?

Sat, Oct 31, 12:00 PM ET at Carter-Finley Stadium. It's on ACC Network.

What's the projected score of California vs. NC State?

SP+ projects NC State 36–26. That's from this season's SP+ offense, defense and special teams ratings, with home field worth 2.5 points.

What's the line for California at NC State?

DraftKings has NC State −9.5, total 56.5. The numbers pick winners, not bets.

What's the California vs. NC State series history?

NC State leads 1–0. Last meeting: NC State won 24–23 in 2024.

Who are the players to watch in California vs. NC State?

California: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (1,612 passing yards), Adam Mohammed (329 rushing yards) and Chase Hendricks (506 receiving yards). NC State: CJ Bailey (1,765 passing yards), Jayden Scott (349 rushing yards) and Keenan Jackson (467 receiving yards). Season totals through Oct 24, 2026.

Who are the quarterbacks in California at NC State?

California's is Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (1,612 passing yards this season); NC State's is CJ Bailey (1,765 passing yards this season).

Who's out for California at NC State?

NC State: Jayden Scott (RB) hasn't played since Week 5.

More on this game

Numbers through the games of Oct 24, 2026. SP+ as of Oct 27, 2026. Updated every week.

California and NC State: team pages with every stat and national rank. Compare any two teams.