Matchup analysis
Before kickoff our model projected South Carolina State 40.1, Norfolk State 22.4 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Week 8. That is a heavy edge: South Carolina State wins about 88% of the time by our estimate, with a projected margin of 17.7 points and 62.4 combined points. Tags: favorite holds, leans high scoring.
Norfolk State is 4-3, scoring 35.3 and allowing 23.4 points per game (+11.9 per game). South Carolina State is 5-2, scoring 43.6 and allowing 19.1 points per game (+24.5 per game).
College football is noisy: even a well-rated projection misses the final margin by about 14 points on average. Based on how real results have scattered around our numbers, the final margin should land somewhere between Norfolk State by 5 and South Carolina State by 40 about 80% of the time.
South Carolina State gets about 2.1 points for playing at home. Even on a neutral field the ratings would still favour South Carolina State by about 15.6. The game is on ESPN+.
Result: Norfolk State 7, South Carolina State 22. The model had the right winner; the margin was off by 2.7 points and the total by 33.4.
Market lines
Market lines · Source: The Odds API, ESPN, Action Network · Updated Oct 29, 9:25 AM UTC. Shown for information; not an input to our projections.
No market line has been posted for this game yet.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Original projection vs new formula
| Projection | Score | Win prob | Margin miss | Total miss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original projection | Norfolk State 22.4, South Carolina State 40.1 | South Carolina State 88%right winner | 2.7 | 33.4 |
| New formula | Not recorded for this game | |||
Final: Norfolk State 7, South Carolina State 22. Original = the number we posted before kickoff. New formula (2026-10-21 matchup terms) = the current model re-run with only the games played before this one.
Norfolk State vs South Carolina State: stat comparison
2025 season numbers (this season's sample is still too small).
| Stat | Norfolk State | South Carolina State |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 20.9 | 32.4 |
| Points allowed per game | 35.6 | 27.2 |
| Yards per play | 6.40 | 5.91 |
| Yards per play allowed | 5.80 | 5.79 |
| Rushing yards per game | 154.3 | 147.5 |
| Net passing yards per game | 224.9 | 273.6 |
| Rushing yards allowed per game | 176.3 | 153.1 |
| Net passing yards allowed per game | 221.3 | 212.8 |
| Turnovers per game | 1.17 | 0.92 |
| Takeaways per game | 0.83 | 1.31 |
| Sacks per game | 1.67 | 2.08 |
| Sacks allowed per game | 2.42 | 2.77 |
| Stat | Norfolk State | South Carolina State |
|---|---|---|
| EPA per play | -0.02 | +0.02 |
| EPA per play allowed | +0.02 | -0.05 |
| Success rate | 40.5% | 43.3% |
| Success rate allowed | 44.7% | 38.5% |
| Explosive play rate | 12.9% | 11.2% |
| Explosive plays allowed | 12.4% | 13.1% |
| Havoc rate | 12.1% | 15.5% |
| Havoc allowed | 14.5% | 13.6% |
| Points per scoring opportunity | 3.26 | 3.70 |
| Points per opportunity allowed | 4.09 | 3.43 |
| Average starting field position | opp 6 | opp 11 |
| Opponents' starting field position | opp 5 | opp 10 |
| Offensive plays per game (pace) | 59.3 | 71.3 |
| Stat | Norfolk State | South Carolina State |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing EPA per play | +0.02 | -0.04 |
| Passing EPA per play | -0.06 | +0.08 |
| Rushing EPA allowed | -0.05 | -0.06 |
| Passing EPA allowed | +0.11 | -0.05 |
| Rushing success rate | 41.8% | 44.3% |
| Passing success rate | 41.7% | 43.3% |
| Run stuff rate | 20.7% | 20.7% |
| Passing-down success rate | 26.1% | 34.1% |
| Passing-down success allowed | 32.2% | 27.5% |
| Third-down conversion rate | 29.9% | 48.0% |
| Third-down rate allowed | 49.1% | 32.8% |
| Red-zone touchdown rate | 49.4% | 58.7% |
| Red-zone TD rate allowed | 63.7% | 46.8% |
# = rank among 136 FBS teams. Efficiency numbers exclude garbage time. Per-play numbers of teams with a weak schedule are pulled toward their opponent-adjusted values (fully at one standard deviation below an average schedule). Source: play-by-play (cfbfastR / sportsdataverse), aggregated by us.
More: Norfolk State schedule · South Carolina State schedule · all Week 8 projections
Share this prediction
Projections are statistical estimates for entertainment and analysis only. They are not betting advice and nothing here guarantees any result.
Free weekly projections email
One email a week in season: the closest projected games, the biggest mismatches and how the model graded out last week. Email address only — no spam, unsubscribe any time.