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Matchup preview

NC State vs Vanderbilt

NC State visit Vanderbilt in Week 3. The model favors Vanderbilt by 7.1. Win probability, the tale of the tape, and the all-time series, all from real data.

Win probability
33%
67%

Model win probability from SP+ ratings + home-field edge.

The read
Model analysis · September 16 · refreshed weekly

SP+ separates these teams by barely two points, rating Vanderbilt 10.1 (35th) against NC State's 8 (41st), and the projection lands on Vanderbilt by 4.5. That gives the home side a 61% model win probability versus the market's 58% on a consensus line of Vanderbilt -3.5 with a 50.5 total. The model sits a hair above the price, so the two views agree on direction and differ only marginally on magnitude, leaving little edge for either contract.

The unit ranks explain the lean: both defenses grade identically at 56th, so the gap traces to offense, where Vanderbilt ranks 22nd against NC State's 31st. Series history offers only a stale data point, with NC State holding a 1-0 edge from a 41-17 win in 2016. The season simulations frame two similar profiles, NC State projected for 6.9 wins and Vanderbilt 6.4, with Playoff odds of 4.1% and 4.7% respectively.

Results this season cut against a clean read. NC State was dismantled 8-34 at Virginia before a 73-0 rout of Richmond, a split of blowouts that muddies any true level. Vanderbilt handled Austin Peay 28-9 and edged Delaware 35-26, wins over lesser competition that neither confirm nor undercut the 22nd-ranked offense. The market's 0.7% title price on Vanderbilt roughly matches the model's 0.4%.

Model and market both favor Vanderbilt by a field goal, with the offense-rank gap the only real separator between two 56th-ranked defenses.

Matchup odds
Consensus line · 3 books
Spread
VAN -3
Total (O/U)
50.5
Favorite
VAN
Moneyline win probability (implied from the spread)

Real consensus line across 3 sportsbooks. Spread and total are the current market number; the win probabilities are implied from the spread.

Matchup odds price history
The market to win this game · daily prices, colored by the favorite
NC State1%-44 ptsvsVanderbilt99%+44 pts
0%25%50%75%100%NC State favoredVanderbilt favoredSep 8Sep 11Sep 13Sep 15Sep 17Sep 19Sep 20

Real daily prices from the market to win this game, shown as NC State's win price; Vanderbilt's is 100 minus it (the same market's other side). Above the 50% line NC State is favored, below it Vanderbilt is, and each candle takes the favored team's color. Kalshi shows open-high-low-close candles (filled body closed up, hollow closed down). As of Sep 23.

Tale of the tape
Percentile vs FBS · 2025 stats, 2026 SP+
#57SP+SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.#39
#46FPIFPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.#14
1605EloElo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.1880
-Title oddsDe-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.0.8%
NC StateVanderbiltsolid = better, faded = trailing
What these metrics mean
SP+. SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.
FPI. FPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.
Elo. Elo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.
Title odds. De-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.
Off PPA. PPA (Predicted Points Added): the average point value each play adds. Higher is better for offense, lower for defense.
Success. Success rate: the share of plays that stay on schedule (roughly 50% of needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd/4th). Higher is better.
Explosive. Explosiveness: the average value of a team's successful plays, i.e. how big its good plays are when they hit.
Yards/game. Total yards gained per game.
Success allowed. How often the defense allows an on-schedule play (enough yards for the down). Lower is better.
Havoc. Havoc rate: the share of plays where the defense makes a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup.
Yards allowed. Total yards allowed per game. Lower is better.
Efficiency profile
Percentile vs FBS · 2025
Recent series
NC State lead 1-0
20162016
Head to head
Every meeting in our records
2016
41-17
NC State
neutral site
More Week 3 matchups
Model previews for the rest of the slate
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trade the NC State vs Vanderbilt game?

Kalshi lists winner markets for college football games. Sign up with code FADE (trade $25, get up to $500), open the NC State vs Vanderbilt market when it posts, and buy YES on your side; the price in cents equals the market's implied win probability. You can sell before kickoff or settlement at the current price.

When do NC State and Vanderbilt play?

Week 3 of 2026, on Sep 19, 2026 at Vanderbilt.

Who is favored?

The model projects Vanderbilt by 7.1 (67% win probability), from SP+ ratings.

What is the all-time series?

NC State lead 1-0 over the meetings in our records.

Full schedule → · Both teams' playoff odds, from 10,000 simulations →

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