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How was Vanderbilt (2-0) going to get past the loss of Diego Pavia? It signed a star recruit to be the new star of the show, and now Jared Curtis gets his time to start in the first big game of the season.
The Commodores had no problem with Austin Peay or Delaware, but quarterback Blaze Berlowitz struggled against the Blue Hens, Curtis stepped in, and here we go.
NC State (1-1) got past the embarrassing Week 0 loss to Virginia by hanging 73 on Richmond. Beat the SEC team on the road and with six of the next seven games at home, the Wolfpack can go on a roll.
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NC State vs Vanderbilt: Quick Hits
- This is the fourth meeting between the two schools. NC State won the last meeting 41-17 in the 2016 Independence Bowl. The Commodores won the 2012 Music City Bowl, and they won the first meeting 7-0 in 1946.
- NC State gets App State next, and then it picks up the ACC season against Louisville.
- Vanderbilt kicks off the SEC season next week at Auburn, with a trip to Georgia to follow.
How To Watch NC State vs Vanderbilt
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Game Time: 12:45 PM ET
TV: SEC Network
Location: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, TN
– Week 3 Schedule, Picks
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 3
Why NC State Will Win
Send the house, NC State. The Vanderbilt offensive line hasn’t been great so far, and now it has to deal with a massive step up in talent on the other side.
The Wolfpack pass rush hasn’t been anything special so far, and Curtis played enough over the first two games not to come in ice-cold, but the defensive front has to hurry everything up.
Why Vanderbilt Will Win
The NC State offensive line wasn’t even close to doing anything right against Virginia’s defensive line. The Wolfpack running game didn’t go anywhere, quarterback CJ Bailey wasn’t able to move the attack, and it all snowballed from there.
But the focus is on Curtis. The 6-3, 230-pound freshman might not be polished yet, but he’s got a big arm and can move. In this, the coaching staff will let him rip it.
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NC State vs Vanderbilt Prediction, Betting Lines
Curtis will be terrific, but it’ll be a step up in play from the Commodore lines that get this done in the second half. NC State will be good, and Bailey will have his moments when he gets the offense moving, but Vandy will do a better job of controlling the clock and tempo.
Vanderbilt 27, NC State 23
Latest Consensus Line: Vanderbilt -3.5, o/u: 50.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 2.5
Must See Rating (out of 5): 3
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 3:59 PM.