NC State at Virginia Week 1 College Football Matchup NC State at Virginia Matchup - Week 1
Sat, Aug 29 2026 · Week 1 · Neutral Site · 🏟 Nilton Santos Stadium Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Turf · 44,661 cap
NC State✈ 746 mi+1 hr TZ Virginia✈ 899 mi+1 hr TZ
Away (Neutral)
VS
Home (Neutral)
Preseason projection — This game has not yet been played and 2026 in-season data is not yet available. Edges are based on 2025 full-season performance. Confidence will increase once in-season games are logged.
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
NC State
27
Virginia
28
P&R Line Virginia -1
P&R Total O/U 54
Confidence 55 Early Season
Vegas Virginia -3.5 · O/U 54.5
Matchup Prediction
Virginia has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Virginia entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Virginia wins
Lean
Game Control
50.6%
Virginia wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
Virginia -3.5
O/U 54.5
Bovada
Advanced Stats
Advanced factors are split · No strong agreement signal
↓ See full breakdown
NC State 2026 Schedule
NC State's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/29NC State vs Virginia+3.554.5
Sat 9/12NC State vs Richmond-28.5
Sat 9/19NC State at Vanderbilt+4
Sat 9/26NC State vs App State-18.5
Sat 10/3NC State vs Louisville+3.5
Sat 10/10NC State vs Wake Forest-3
— Bye Week —
Fri 10/23NC State at Stanford-11.5
Fri 10/30NC State vs California-4
Fri 11/6NC State vs Duke-3
Sat 11/14NC State vs Syracuse-16
Sat 11/21NC State at Florida State+4
Sat 11/28NC State at North Carolina-6.5
Virginia 2026 Schedule
Virginia's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/29Virginia vs NC State-3.554.5
Sat 9/12Virginia vs Norfolk State-29
Sat 9/19Virginia at West Virginia-7
Sat 9/26Virginia vs Delaware-16
Sat 10/3Virginia at Florida State+3
Sat 10/10Virginia vs Syracuse-16.5
Sat 10/17Virginia at SMU+10.5
Fri 10/23Virginia vs Duke-3.5
Sat 10/31Virginia at Wake Forest+1
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/14Virginia vs California-5
Sat 11/21Virginia vs North Carolina-12.5
Sat 11/28Virginia at Virginia Tech-6
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season (prior year)
Virginia PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
NC State #20
+0.340
Virginia #64
+0.390
Virginia Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
NC State #25
+0.536
Virginia #76
+0.533
NC State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
NC State #86
0.149
Virginia #23
0.181
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Virginia Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
NC State #8
+7.705
Virginia #82
+7.265
NC State Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
NC State #50
+0.812
Virginia #82
+0.808
NC State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
NC State #105
72.1
Virginia #30
69.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Virginia Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season (prior year — 2026 data not yet available) · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Virginia Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
NC State #35
6.6
Virginia #32
7.0
Offense Rating
NC State #37
18.2
Virginia #44
17.9
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
NC State #36
11.6
Virginia #30
10.9
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Virginia Edge
Avg sequences created per game
NC State #70
0.83
Virginia #29
1.31
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
NC State #99
1.50
Virginia #9
0.39
Virginia +0.48
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Virginia Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
NC State #45
51.8
Virginia #17
55.9
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
NC State #58
35.5
Virginia #18
24.9
Virginia +4.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 50.6% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Coaching Matchup
NC State
Dave Doeren #62
95–70 (58%) · Yr 14 at school
OC Kurt Roper Yr 2 #43
DC D. J. Eliot Yr 2 #119
Staff Rating
2.66 #72
Virginia
Tony Elliott #120
22–26 (46%) · Yr 5 at school
OC Des Kitchings Yr 3 #61
DC John Rudzinski Yr 3 #63
Staff Rating
2.33 #101
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself