Louisville at NC State Week 5 College Football Matchup Louisville at NC State Matchup - Week 5
Sat, Oct 3 2026 · Week 5 · 🏟 Carter-Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC · Turf · 57,583 cap
Louisville✈ 422 miSame TZ
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
Louisville
29
NC State
26
P&R Line Louisville -3.5
P&R Total O/U 54.5
Confidence 63 Moderate
Matchup Prediction
Louisville has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Louisville entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Louisville wins
Lean
Game Control
49.4%
Louisville wins
Toss-up
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Louisville · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 NC State 2nd straight Home Game
Louisville 2026 Schedule
Louisville's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Louisville vs Ole Miss+8.552.5
Fri 9/11Louisville vs Villanova-31
Sat 9/19Louisville vs SMU+0.5
Sat 9/26Louisville vs Wake Forest-9
Sat 10/3Louisville at NC State-3.5
Fri 10/9Louisville vs Florida State-7
Sat 10/17Louisville at Syracuse-16.5
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/31Louisville vs Stanford-22.5
Fri 11/6Louisville at Georgia Tech-4
Sat 11/14Louisville at North Carolina-12.5
Sat 11/21Louisville vs Pittsburgh-5.5
Sat 11/28Louisville at Kentucky-8
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
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season (prior year)
Louisville 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
Both Agree
→ Louisville
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Louisville #84
+0.358
NC State #20
+0.332
Louisville Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Louisville #119
+0.427
NC State #25
+0.447
NC State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Louisville #33
0.173
NC State #86
0.149
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Louisville Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Louisville #77
+7.323
NC State #8
+8.065
NC State Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Louisville #44
+0.839
NC State #50
+0.805
Louisville Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Louisville #11
67.6
NC State #105
72.1
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Louisville 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
Louisville Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Louisville #22
10.8
NC State #35
6.6
Offense Rating
Louisville #17
21.9
NC State #37
18.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Louisville #33
11.2
NC State #36
11.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Louisville Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Louisville #17
1.50
NC State #70
0.83
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Louisville #18
0.50
NC State #99
1.50
Louisville +0.67
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Louisville Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Louisville #21
52.3
NC State #45
51.8
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Louisville #32
29.4
NC State #58
35.5
Louisville +0.6
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Coaching Matchup
Louisville
Jeff Brohm #25
28–12 (70%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Brian Brohm Yr 3 #25
DC Mark Ivey Yr 1 #68
Staff Rating
3.28 #27
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
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