- Matchup: California Golden Bears vs NC State Wolfpack
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Venue: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
- Broadcast: ACC Network
- Betting Line: Wolfpack favored by 7.5 points
- Over/Under Total: 56.5 points
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Carter-Finley Stadium will host a showdown as the NC State Wolfpack (3-4) take on the California Golden Bears (3-5) on Saturday, October 31, 2026. NC State enters the game as 7.5-point favorites, with the total set at 56.5 points.
The California Golden Bears come into this contest with a 3-5 record for the season. In their latest outing, they faced off against the SMU Mustangs, ending with a disappointing 59-20 defeat. In that game, the Golden Bears ran 66 plays for a total of 305 yards. They attempted 28 rushes for a mere 40 yards, averaging just 1.4 yards per carry. Defensively, California struggled, giving up 256 rushing yards on 44 attempts, approximately 5.8 yards per carry. In the passing game, the Golden Bears allowed 17 completions on 24 attempts, conceding 236 yards with a completion percentage of 70.8%.
On the offensive front, the California Golden Bears are scoring an average of 23.4 points per game. As a team, they are only managing about 84.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks them 137th in Division 1. This season, the Golden Bears have accumulated a total of 2,954 offensive yards. They have achieved a combination of 13 passing touchdowns and 8 rushing touchdowns. In terms of first downs, California has recorded 161, but has also been penalized 73 times for a total of 682 yards, resulting in 8 turnovers.
Defensively, the Golden Bears rank 119th in the country, allowing 31.6 points per game. They give up an average of 5.2 yards per carry, totaling 189.4 rushing yards allowed per game. This season, they have conceded 1,515 rushing yards across 8 games. In the air, California has allowed 1,680 passing yards, placing them 97th nationally. They are yielding 210.0 passing yards per game with a completion percentage against of 59.0%. Overall, California’s defense is allowing an average of 399.4 yards per game, ranking them 112th in Division 1, and they have permitted 13 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns.
The Wolfpack enter this matchup with a season record of 3-4. In their most recent game, they suffered a 31-28 loss at the hands of the Stanford Cardinal. Against Stanford, NC State averaged 3.8 yards per carry, finishing with 125 rushing yards on 33 attempts. Overall, the Wolfpack generated 381 total yards from 64 plays, averaging 6.0 yards per play. On defense, NC State’s passing unit allowed a completion rate of 59.5%, conceding 303 yards on 22 of 37 passing attempts. They allowed 33 rushing attempts for 174 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
When it comes to scoring, the Wolfpack are currently 48th in Division 1, averaging 32.3 points per game. They rank 46th with a total offense averaging 419.9 yards per contest. The NC State offense has incurred 340 yards in penalties across 38 infractions, ranking 116th in aiding the opponent. They have thrown 4 interceptions and lost 5 fumbles, while accumulating 155 first downs. For the season, the Wolfpack have amassed 1,803 passing yards, with an average of 257.6 yards per game, placing them 38th nationally. Furthermore, they are producing 162.3 rushing yards per game with a total of 1,136 rushing yards this season.
Defensively, NC State is conceding 28.1 points per game, ranking 105th in college football. Thus far, they have allowed 975 rushing yards (averaging 139.3 yards per game) along with 9 rushing touchdowns. In the passing game, they have permitted 16 touchdowns and are yielding 240.7 yards per game, which ranks them 111th nationally. The Wolfpack have participated in 430 defensive plays, placing them 20th in college football. They have forced 5 fumbles and secured 3 interceptions this season, allowing a total of 197 points.
Who will emerge victorious in this intriguing Golden Bears vs. Wolfpack matchup against the spread?
Our Prediction: Take the Wolfpack -7.5
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