The NC State Wolfpack and Virginia Cavaliers are starting the season with an ACC conference matchup. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Cavaliers are listed as 4.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 53.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for this Week 0 matchup.
UVA vs. NC State prediction, preview
NC State Preview
Dave Doeren has built a consistently solid program in Raleigh. NC State has made a bowl game in each of the last six seasons. This year, they don’t return many familiar faces on offense, but did keep CJ Bailey at quarterback. NC State has some solid pieces defensively, especially in the linebacker room. However, this team will likely go as far as CJ Bailey takes them. Bailey is a great quarterback that could be one of the best signal-callers in the ACC this season. If he can take a step forward, this could be a great team. If he doesn’t live up to expectations, it could be a disappointing season for the Wolfpack. It will be up to Bailey to gel with a brand new group of skill position players.
UVA Preview
After three tough years to start his tenure at Virginia, Tony Elliott finally had his breakout season in 2025. The Cavaliers won 10 games, made it to the ACC Championship Game and beat Missouri in the Gator Bowl to cap off the season. Elliott will hope to build on that success and prove UVA can be a consistent winner in the ACC. To do that, he had to replace last year’s quarterback Chandler Morris. Elliott went out and got Beau Pribula, the former Missouri and Penn State quarterback, to be his new QB1. The Cavaliers also have an experienced backup option in former Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein.
This Virginia team has one of the most experienced rosters in the country. No team in the nation has more collective career games played on its roster than the Cavaliers. They were a really solid defensive team last season and bring back a lot of key pieces on defense, including star linebacker Kam Robinson.
UVA vs. NC State Pick
This was one of the two games that Virginia lost last season. NC State beat them 35-31 in an exciting shootout in Raleigh. Tony Elliott will want his revenge in this game. He might get the win, but this game should be tight. There is some uncertainty around both of these teams, but the most sure thing is CJ Bailey at quarterback for NC State. Bailey will arguably be the best player on the field in this game. He should be able to make the plays to at least keep his team in the game, even if they don’t get the road win.
Virginia had a great 2025 season, but their schedule played a big role in that. Not only did they have an easy schedule, but a lot of those results were very close. They won three overtime games and had four games settled by six points or fewer. Against other competitive ACC teams, they were unable to win with margin. That includes that trip to Raleigh where they lost to Dave Doeren’s Wolfpack. CJ Bailey should be the difference and get his team to cover as 4.5-point underdogs to open the season.
