Duke vs. NC State: Staff predictions

Duke takes the short trip to Raleigh to battle rival NC State on Saturday. The Blue Devils are coming off back-to-back wins, including a 47-2 rout of Boston College last weekend, to become bowl-eligible for a program-record fifth straight time.

The Wolfpack are 4-4 after a 31-10 win over California, as quarterback CJ Bailey threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Davion Gause ran for 104 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

Here is how the staff at Duke Wire predicts the game to play out:

Zach Ciavolella

After setting the Duke single-season record for total touchdowns, Nate Sheppard is not done. He's looking to prove he is among the nation's top running backs and a worthy Heisman candidate. Against an NC State team allowing 131 rushing yards per game, he's unlikely to slow down this week.

Duke 30, NC State 24

Sam Prestipino

While NC State has been down in the dumps after firing Dave Doeren, I think the boost that such a move gives a team will be enough to give Duke a run for its money this week. If the Wolfpack can mitigate the damage caused by star running back Nate Sheppard, they'll have a really good shot of winning this game at home. I'll hesitantly pick NC State in a close one.

NC State 24, Duke 17

Brian Stultz

There’s nothing scarier than a team playing for an interim head coach, and California found that out last week in a 31-10 loss to the Wolfpack. This is also a rivalry game between a team still fighting for a spot in the ACC title game in Duke and a team fighting for bowl eligibility in NC State. Don’t expect either team to run away from the other, and it will take a clutch touchdown pass from Walker Eget in the fourth quarter for the Blue Devils to pull this one out.

Duke 27, NC State 23

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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke vs. NC State: Staff predictions