If you want more Action Network content, be sure to add us as a preferred source on Google.
The NC Central Eagles take on the Delaware State Hornets in Dover, Delaware, on Friday, Oct. 23. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Delaware State is favored by -5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -228. The total is set at 55.5 points.
Here��s my NC Central vs Delaware State prediction and college football pick for Friday, October 23.
NC Central vs Delaware State Prediction
- NC Central vs Delaware State Pick: Under 55.5
My Delaware State vs. NC Central best bet is on the under. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page and be sure to download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis.
NC Central vs Delaware State Odds
| NC Central Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -119 | 55.5 -110o / -113u | +179 |
| Delaware State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -104 | 55.5 -110o / -113u | -228 |
- NC Central vs Delaware State point spread: Delaware State -5.5 (-104), NC Central +5.5 (-119)
- NC Central vs Delaware State over/under: 55.5 (-110o / -113u)
- NC Central vs Delaware State moneyline: NC Central +179, Delaware State -228
NC Central vs Delaware State College Football Preview
NC Central Eagles Betting Preview
NC Central comes into this one off of a much needed bye week, which followed four straight losses en route to a 2-5 start.
The Eagles are a proud program that has been atop the MEAC standings at the FCS level as recently as two years ago, but a negative talent churn has this group reeling, and the only wins this season have come over non-D-I Elizabeth City State and fellow HBCU NC A&T.
Competitive losses against Campbell and William & Mary have been encouraging as it shows this Eagles group is improving.
Also, the loss against the Tribe is a bit misleading. NC Central outgained William & Mary 439-221 and held the Tribe to just 3-of-14 on third down.
A blocked punt returned for a touchdown and three failed fourth down attempts ultimately were too much to overcome.
Overall, though, there have been signs of improvement with this bunch.
The offense has rotated quarterbacks all season, but starter Nelson Layne missed the last game and was not listed on the depth chart this week.
Cobey Thompkins and Joshua Jones figure to split reps again this week. Neither quarterback is overly proficient as a passer and the two have combined to complete just 29-of-61 passes this season for 335 yards.
Plez Lawrence had a breakout game on the ground while rushing for 210 yards and three touchdowns against NC A&T and has not done anything since.
He is not listed on the depth chart this week, so freshman Gino Addison figures to receive a bulk of the carries in this one while splitting reps with Zion Dobson. With all of the shuffling at key positions, there is reason to believe this offense might struggle in this one.
None of the defenses in the MEAC are overly strong, but NC Central does have one of the better ones in this conference.
The passing numbers look poor due to it facing Gardner-Webb (with its starting quarterback who has now been hurt), Campbell and East Carolina, all of which have excellent passing offenses and superior offensive talent to NC Central’s defense.
The performance two weeks ago against William & Mary was encouraging, and I could see another solid performance where this defense is able to stifle what Delaware State wants to do on the ground.
Delaware State Hornets Betting Preview
Delaware State had a great first season under head coach DeSean Jackson, who made a splash in taking this job 18 months ago.
Jackson has upgraded the talent and competitive attitude for a Hornets program that was regularly at the bottom of the MEAC and was widely considered one of the worst teams at the FCS level for years.
This is no longer the case as Delaware State has been much more competitive weekly, validated by a pair of wins over Stony Brook and Towson.
The offense is also going through some personnel shuffling, as starting quarterback Ui Ale did not play last week against non-D-I opponent Franklin Pierce after completing just 11 passes against Towson prior to that.
Seldom-used Jayden Sauray quarterbacked the offense last week and completed 15-of-28 passes for 162 yards while also rushing for 292 yards with three rushing scores. Two of the runs exceeded 90 yards in length, and the performance has vaulted Sauray as the leading rusher on the team.
The rest of the ground attack is not overly fierce, as Jayden Jenkins is the leading rusher (202 yards) beyond the quarterback position.
I do not expect the Delaware State rushing attack to be as potent as we saw last week. But the more concerning stat is the five sacks surrendered by the offensive line against Franklin Pierce.
I will be interested to see how much the Hornets throw the ball in this game, as the offensive line has played poorly all season, giving up sacks on 10% of drop backs.
The defense hasn’t played too bad this season, but playing South Florida and two non-D-I opponents doesn't really make the metrics reliable. The run-stop unit has been sound all season against FCS competition, allowing just 121 yards per game in those contests.
The defense has forced a fair amount of turnovers this season and its performance in the red zone has been poor against FCS teams, allowing 14 of 18 trips to result in touchdowns.
This will be arguably the weakest FCS offense Delaware State will have faced all season, and the defense will have opportunities to make plays.
NC Central vs Delaware State Pick, Betting Analysis
This line opened with Delaware State listed as a 5.5-point favorite with a total set at 55.5. I like the under in this matchup.
Delaware State and NC Central are both calling on backup quarterbacks in this game, and neither team has a proficient passing attack.
Thompkins has completed just 54% of his passes on the season with two passing touchdowns.
On the other side, Sauray has completed just 48% and hasn't thrown a touchdown this season. He also struggled last season as the Hornets' backup quarterback.
I expect to see a heavy dose of run action, and despite Delaware State's rushing output last week, neither of these offenses is very explosive. The biggest concern I have is the play of each of these offensive lines, as both have been very poor this season.
NC Central has allowed 27 sacks and 65 tackles for loss this season and regularly sees drives stall out because of ill-timed negative plays. The activity behind the line of scrimmage has resulted in unfavorable down-and-distance on third down, where NC Central is converting just 37%.
The red-zone performance has also been affected, as the Eagles have scored touchdowns on just 13-of-27 trips, settling for nine field goals.
Delaware State has a similar problem, as its offensive line has given up 16 sacks and 39 tackles for loss.
With the backup quarterback, we saw a heavy display of rushing activity last week, and I don't think the Hornets are going to be able to throw the ball against the Eagles, who grade out as the second-best pass coverage unit in the MEAC, per PFF.
This should amount to a sloppy football game with inefficient offensive play. Both of these teams are heavily penalized squads, and the execution in the red zone has been substandard all season.
Expect missed opportunities, negative plays and a lower-scoring game.
Pick: Under 55.5
NC Central vs Delaware State Betting Trends
