California Golden Bears vs NC State Wolfpack Preview & Odds — October 31, 2026
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About these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 8 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
Matchup preview
California (2-5) visits NC State (2-4) on Saturday, October 31 at 12:00 PM ET.
California has the 116th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 104th-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, NC State has the 34th-ranked offense and the 110th-ranked defense. When California has the ball, a 116th-ranked offense (−0.066 EPA per play) meets a 110th-ranked defense (+0.170 allowed); when NC State has it, a 34th-ranked offense (+0.160) meets a 104th-ranked defense (+0.154 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the California offense is at 41.9% (122nd) and the NC State offense at 50.4% (24th). California scores 19.7 points per game (113th) and allows 35.1 (121st); NC State scores 25.5 (69th) and allows 32.8 (112th).
California is 3-5 and 2-6 against the spread; its last game was a 59-20 loss to SMU. NC State is 3-4; its last game was a 31-28 loss to Stanford.
NC State is a 7-point favorite at home against California. The spread opened at NC State -7.5. The total is 56.5, down from 57.5 at the open. After removing the vig, the moneyline (California +220, NC State -275) prices California at 30% and NC State at 70%.
Built from public team and player data; ranks are league-wide and update daily until kickoff.
Market
Odds and line movement
California +7.5 (-110)
California +7 (-109)
NC State -312 73%
NC State -275 70%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. The Now column updates from our odds board. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Best available prices on Oct 28
- California +7-108DraftKings
- NC State -7-102Caesars
- Over 56.5-108Novig
- Under 56.5+100Novig
- California+230BetRivers
- NC State-233Novig
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts219
- Completion %68.0%33rd
- Passing yards1,55593rd
- Yards per attempt7.1150th
- TD–INT10–5
- Rushing yards336158th
- Season line73 carries, 336 yds, 3 TD
- Receiving yards49854th
- Season line54 catches, 498 yds, 3 TD
- Tackles46183rd
- Attempts219
- Completion %65.3%73rd
- Passing yards1,76352nd
- Yards per attempt8.170th
- TD–INT11–4
- Rushing yards358141st
- Season line62 carries, 358 yds, 4 TD
- Receiving yards45674th
- Season line30 catches, 456 yds, 6 TD
- Tackles6047th
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 264 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 28, 5:34 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | California | NC State |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateCalifornia offense vs NC State defense | 39.8%110th | 49.1%131st |
| Early-down success rateNC State offense vs California defense | 42.0%53rd | 42.6%78th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateCalifornia offense vs NC State defense | 37.3%96th | 41.4%83rd |
| 3rd-down conversion rateNC State offense vs California defense | 42.2%90th | 51.9%11th |
| Explosive play rateCalifornia offense vs NC State defense | 5.8%108th | 9.1%128th |
| Explosive play rateNC State offense vs California defense | 11.0%137th | 6.1%96th |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 62.2%5th-highest | 52.1%57th-highest |
On 3rd down California converts 37.3% (96th) against a NC State defense allowing 41.4% (83rd).
On 3rd down NC State converts 51.9% (11th) against a California defense allowing 42.2% (90th).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | California | NC State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Tosh Lupoi | Todd Goebbel (interim) (interim) |
| Tenureat this school | 1st season | 1st season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 3–5 | 0–0 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 3–5 | 0–0 |
| Offensive coordinator | Pat McCann | Kurt Roper |
| Defensive coordinator | Da'Von Brown / Michael Hutchings | D. J. Eliot / Charlton Warren |
Staff list as of October 27, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 1 time since 2021: California won 0 and NC State 1.
| Date | Score | Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2024 | NC State 24, California 23 NC State won |
Meetings since 2021, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.
Result
After the final: score vs the closing line, Drive X-Ray and the graded official play, if there was one, appear here on this same page.
Teams
California Golden Bears
- California Golden Bears team stats
- California Golden Bears 20, SMU Mustangs 59 (Oct 24)
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons 41, California Golden Bears 7 (Oct 17)
- Virginia Tech Hokies 20, California Golden Bears 25 (Oct 10)
NC State Wolfpack
More NCAAF games on October 31, 2026
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