N.C. State (3-4, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) is set to face California (3-3, 0-3) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on ACC Network.

According to BetMGM College Football Odds, California is favored by 10.5 points in this matchup.

This encounter marks the first meeting between the two teams in their history.

As both teams find themselves in the middle of October seeking their first victories in the ACC, the significance of this game intensifies with the pressures of meeting bowl eligibility requirements. The Wolfpack and Golden Bears currently rank as two of the three teams without a win in conference play, alongside North Carolina.

A crucial aspect of the game will be how the N.C. State pass defense contends with Cal tight end Jack Endries. Over the last two games, Endries has become a pivotal part of the Bears’ offense, amassing 11 receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns. The Wolfpack’s defense has been effective against tight ends this season, allowing only two touchdowns, while only one tight end—Syracuse’s Oronde Gadsden—has caught more than three passes in a single game against them.

On the N.C. State side, all eyes will be on quarterback CJ Bailey. The true freshman was thrust into the starting role due to concussion issues concerning Grayson McCall, a graduate transfer from Coastal Carolina. In the past two games, Bailey has demonstrated consistent improvement, throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns versus Wake Forest, and exceeding that effort with 329 yards and another pair of scores against Syracuse last week. He also contributed 43 rushing yards in that matchup.

For California, senior cornerback Nohl Williams stands out after securing his sixth interception of the season last week against Pittsburgh, which leads the nation. This performance ties him with the most picks by a Cal player in a season since Daymeion Hughes recorded eight in 2006. Williams has a chance to set a new school record, which currently sits at nine, a mark established by Deltha O’Neal back in 1999.

As for some background statistics, N.C. State’s start of 0-3 in the ACC is their worst since an 0-4 initiation in 2014. Prior to this season, the Wolfpack demonstrated a strong performance record, totaling 34 wins overall and a conference play record of 23-11 over the last four years. However, this season, their defense, once a point of pride, is struggling, ranking 90th in total defense (allowing 382.3 yards) and 113th in scoring defense (giving up 32.3 points). Interestingly, this also marks N.C. State’s first trip to the West Coast since their 1960 visit to UCLA, although a subsequent game against UCLA was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns in 2021.

California, meanwhile, has faced narrow defeats in their three conference losses, getting outscored by a total of just eight points. They currently share the distinction for the most missed field goals in the nation, with seven, adding to their woes. Kicker Ryan Coe notably missed two field goals in a five-point loss to Florida State, including a potential game-winning attempt from 40 yards during last week’s game against Pittsburgh.