Thursday Night ESPN College Football NC State @ Cincinnati Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Week 4 NCAA Football Spreads and Odds

Week 4 Free College Football Picks and Spreads: NC State Wolfpack @ Cincinnati Bearcats 2011 NCAA Football Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on ESPN 9/22/11: A pair of 2-1 teams looking to make a statement with an out-of-conference win will face off Thursday night on ESPN when N.C. State visits Cincinnati. Neither the Wolpack not the Bearcats have a signature win to this point, and Cincinnati got blown out in their lone test of the year against Tennessee. With both teams hoping to make some noise once conference play kicks into high gear, building some momentum and confidence Thursday night could be a step in the right direction, and the Bearcats open as 7 ½-point favorites.

This meeting has all the makings of a back-and-forth shootout. N.C. State brings a banged up defense against a Cincinnati offense that ranks among the top five nationally. The Wolpack can put points on the board as well, and the Bearcats have been as inept on defense as they have been effective on offense. With an over/under of 59 ½ points, bettors have to strongly consider taking the over on this one. Barring heavy rains, this should be a track meet.

Tom O’Brien is already under fire from N.C. State fans after running quarterback Russell Wilson out of town because of his decision to play both football and baseball. Mike Glennon has stepped up, throwing eight touchdowns and just a single interception in three games. However, Wilson is putting up Heisman Trophy numbers while helping the Wisconsin Badgers look like a title national contender. If Glennon falters in his first real road test, O’Brien’s decision looks more and more questionable.

In terms of offensive firepower, Cincinnati is loaded at the skilled positions. Quarterback Zach Collaros has thrown for seven touchdowns in three games, and he can make big plays with both his legs and his arm. Wide receiver D.J. Woods is Collaros’ top target, while running back Isaiah Pead is emerging as one of the most explosive backs in the nation. Pead has rushed for more than 250 yards this year on nearly 10 yards per carry. He has also scored four times. Cincinnati’s high-powered offensive attack should find scoring opportunities even easier against a Wolfpack defense that is missing three starters due to injury. The loss of linebacker Terrell Manning could be particularly hard for N.C. State to overcome Thursday night, given the running ability of both Pead and Collaros.

Of course, the Wolfpack should find scoring opportunities equally plentiful thanks to a Cincinnati defense that ranked near the bottom of the Big East last season in almost every category. The Bearcats were torched for 45 points by the Volunteers two weeks ago, allowing Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray to throw for more than 400 yards. If Glennon has a similar night Thursday, N.C. State should be able to hang right with the Bearcats. Throw in a balanced running attack that the Wolfpack brings to the table, and Cincinnati could be helpless to slow down O’Brien’s team.

In the end, it is tough to know what to expect out of both teams Thursday. The Bearcats managed just 23 points on the road against Tennessee, while N.C. State hasn’t beaten a team worth mentioning yet in 2011. Playing at home should give the Bearcats a slight edge, but this matchup could be decided by whichever team has the ball last. With a few more weapons on offense, Cincinnati should be able to win. However, the Wolfpack should be able to hang within a touchdown.

Prediction: N.C. State Wolfpack (+7 ½) Cover the Spread

Free College Football Picks and NCAAF Predictions: NC State +7.5 to cover the spread

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