Matt McKay Heavy -250 Favorite to Win NC State Starting QB Job for Week 1; Hockman at +275 Odds

• The NC State Wolfpack have an open competition to replace Ryan Finley at QB
• The team is also replacing an offensive coordinator as Eli Drinkwitz left to be the head coach at Appalachian State
• Matt McKay is the early favorite to start Week 1 vs East Carolina, and this is his job to lose

The North Carolina State Wolfpack are starting over this season at quarterback and at offensive coordinator. Ryan Finley, who led the Wolfpack to two of their better seasons in recent memory, has moved on to the NFL, while OC Eli Drinkwitz to the head job at Appalachian Stave.

Who will win the battle to replace NC State legend Finley? There are three options on the board at sportsbooks.

2019 North Carolina State Starting Quarterback Odds

*Odds as of 31/07/19.

The Effect of New Offensive Coordinator

This year, N.C. State’s offensive coordinator duties will be shared by Des Kitchings and George McDonald. The duo share play-calling responsibilities.

The Wolfpack need to make sure that the new working relationship between their quarterback and their coordinators is solid. While they’re not a serious contender in the 2019 ACC Title odds, the position will be crucial to their bowl hopes. There are three contenders on the board, two have emerged as the frontrunners.

McKay Leading The Way

The reason why McKay is the favorite for the starting quarterback job at North Carolina State is that he impressed in the spring game, which gave him a natural advantage heading into fall training camp. The sophomore was 14/24 passing for 182 yards with two touchdowns (one passing and one running).

McKay got a vote of confidence from head coach Dave Doeren after that game, while the head coach also mentioned that Bailey Hockman and the other challengers for the starting spot were definitely in catch-up mode.

What also helps McKay is that he’s the only quarterback on the roster with live game experience. He played sparingly as a backup last year, but that’s something. He’s grown into the role as a leader over the last couple of months

Hockman Is Behind

The first live snap Hockman took in the N.C. State spring game showed that he has a lot of adjustments to make to college football. He was nervous and he clearly did not yet know where players would line up. That first play was an attempted handoff but he turned to the side of the backfield where no running back had positioned himself.

That gives you an idea of where the Florida State transfer is at. He was one of the top high-school quarterbacks in 2017, though, and probably is the more talented of the two players between himself and McKay. The issue is he’s learning a new offense and is clearly behind.

Is Leary Still In The Mix?

Devin Leary is an uber-talented four-star recruit out of New Jersey and probably has the strongest arm of the group. However, he’s still viewed as the rawest of the three prospects.

The generally feeling is that he’ll eventually be the starter, but he’s probably about a year away from making that a reality.

What’s The Best Bet?

While we still have the whole training camp to get through, based on McKay’s development, it feels like he’s far more advanced than the other two. I can’t see the coaches throwing Hockman into the fire in Week 1 of a season, even though it is a duck-soup contest against East Carolina (Aug. 31).

McKay is the starter and the best bet, but he’ll have some talented arms behind him if he stumbles.

Pick: McKay (-250)

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