N.C. STATE AT UM FAST FACTS, ODDS, KEYS, PREDICTIONS

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens Latest line: N.C. State’s favored by3½ TV: ESPN2 Radio: 560-AM, 990-AM (Spanish) Weather: 78 degrees, 36% chance of precipitation Online: sun-sentinel.com/um; @ khobi_price on Twitter Stadium safety protocols: Hard Rock Stadium will operate at full capacity. All attendees are encouraged to wear masks in indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status, and to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from those outside of their own party. Quick slant: After having backto-back losses to Virginia and North Carolina in which Miami’s comeback attempts fell short, the Hurricanes are looking to get their first conference win against the Wolfpack. Miami beat N.C. State last season in Raleigh, N.C. behind D’Eriq King’s 535 total yards (430 passing and 105 rushing) and five touchdowns. The Hurricanes have a 10-5-1 all-time record against the Wolfpack. About Miami (2-4, 0-2 ACC): The Hurricanes are coming off a 45-42 road loss to North Carolina in which quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was intercepted in the red zone with six seconds left in the game. UM lost starting running back Cam’Ron Harris to a seasonending knee injury during the loss to the Tar Heels. A loss would drop Miami to 2-5, which would mark its worst seven-game start since the 1975 team started 1-6. About No. 18 N.C. State (5-1, 2-0 ACC): The Wolfpack have won four consecutive games, including a win over Clemson earlier in the season, and nine of their last 11 since losing to Miami last November. N.C. State ranks sixth in the nation in points allowed (14.33) and 16th in yards allowed per play (4.66).

Three things to watch

1. Despite having eight interceptions, N.C. State’s cornerbacks are the least formidable unit of a dominant Wolfpack defense. Will the Hurricanes be able to exploit the deficiency and create explosive plays with Van Dyke connecting on deep balls to his wideouts? 2. Will the Hurricanes create extra possessions? The Wolfpack only average one giveaway per game, but Miami will likely need to create multiple takeaways to keep itself in the game since N.C. State has one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. 3. The Wolfpack have the best third-down defense in the country, with opposing offenses only getting a first down on 25% of its third-down opportunities. Will Miami find a way to stay on the field and control the game?

Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist: N.C. State 33, Miami 27

N.C. State is coming off a 33-7 win against Boston College and beat Clemson in double overtime last month. Those are better performances than Miami has this year. The Hurricanes are off to their worst start in more than 20 years. To make matters worse, starting running back Cam’Ron Harris is out for the season with a knee injury. It also doesn’t help that UM hasn’t held a lead in an ACC game all season. N.C. State is off to its best start in four years, when it opened 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the ACC in 2017. The pain marches on.

Khobi Price, Hurricanes Writer: N.C. State 33, Miami 27

The Hurricanes have gotten off to slow starts in their two conference losses to Virginia and North Carolina, something they can’t afford to do against the Wolfpack. N.C. State has one of the stingiest defenses in the nation and will be the toughest challenge to date for UM quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who’s acknowledged he needs to be more settled entering games. Despite the changes on the depth chart, it’s hard seeing Miami’s struggling defense keeping the Wolfpack in check. Expect the Hurricanes’ six-game losing streak to FBS programs to extend to seven.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor: N.C. State 31, Miami 23

The reeling Hurricanes are trying to avoid their worst start in 46 years. A loss would drop UM to 2-5, which would mark its worst seven-game start since the 1975 team started 1-6. A win for Miami, which opened the season with high expectations, would certainly silence their critics. No. 18 North Carolina State has won four straight games and nine of its last 11, dating back to last season. The Wolfpack are led by Devin Leary, who’s on pace for the highest quarterback rating at N.C. State since Philip Rivers in 2003. Perhaps the biggest reason for N.C. State’s success is they lead the nation in third-down defense, holding opponents to a 25% conversion rate.

LYNNE SLADKY/AP Miami head coach Manny Diaz watches players warm up before a game.