Top NCAAF Pick: NC State ML (+135) at Everygame (visit our Everygame Review)
Camping World Stadium in Orlando is the site of this year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl between the NC State Wolfpack and the Kansas State Wildcats.
Let’s check out the NCAAF odds board regarding this year’s interconference clash and keep cashing out at our main offshore sportsbooks.
NC State Wolfpack vs. Kansas State Wildcats
Thursday, December 28, 2023 – 05:45 PM ET at Camping World Stadium
Stat Trifecta
- North Carolina State is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games.
- North Carolina State is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.
- North Carolina State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing as the underdog.
Wolfpack Streaking
The Wolfpack enters this postseason matchup on a tear, having won and covered their last five games. In their most recent outing, the Pack sprinted to a 23-0 lead over their intra-state rivals from Chapel Hill and never looked back. When the final second ticked off the clock, NC State had claimed its fifth consecutive win, and a good one at that – a 39-20 victory over North Carolina.
NC State went into that game as 2 ½-point home underdogs, with the public laying it in on the Tar Heels and their top NFL prospect, quarterback Drake Maye, as well as sophomore tailback, Omarion Hampton, who entered the contest tied as the nation’s top rushing leader.
All eyes were on the dynamic Heels’ offense, but the Wolfpack defense stood tall and held Maye to without a completed pass until the second quarter. Ironically, it was NC State quarterback, Brennan Armstrong, who lit up the scoreboard with 3 touchdown passes, no picks, and 334 passing yards, while Maye ended with 2 touchdown passes, 2 interceptions, and 254 passing yards.
Wildcats End With a Thud
Kansas State had won 5 of 6 entering their regular-season finale and was installed as a 10-point home chalk over visiting Iowa State. But the books had the wrong favorite in this one as the Cyclones turned the tables on the Wildcats and handed their hosts a bitter 42-35 defeat.
It appeared as though Kansas State was going to right the ship after falling behind to take a six-point lead at the half. However, Iowa State was not to be denied as freshman tailback, Abu Sama III, gashed the Wildcats’ run-stop unit early and quarterback Rocco Becht lit the secondary up late with three long bombs that went for touchdowns in the second half.
Cats’ quarterback, Will Howard, put the ball up 48 times, connecting on only half of his passes, and tossed for 288 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, the ground game supplied three touchdowns and a total of 209 yards led by sophomore running back, DJ Giddens, who racked up 114 of those rushing yards.
Underdog Bite Marks
We’ve got a team in NC State that is absolutely smoking at the end of the season. Not only has the Wolfpack won and covered their last five games, but they have done so despite being installed as underdogs in four of those contests. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is at this point because all facets of the Pack’s game are locked and loaded.
And what makes those victories so impressive is that NC State hasn’t just managed to wriggle by as underdogs in those four games. As a 2-point favorite over Wake Forest, they have won by an average of over 13 points per game in those contests.
Look, there is no denying that the Wildcats have an explosive offense but it is their rushing attack that keeps the motor revving. DJ Giddens has rushed for over 1000 yards with 9 touchdowns, while quarterback Will Howard complements that ground game with 351 rushing yards of his own and has scampered into the end zone nine times as well.
However, the Wolfpack is now clicking on all cylinders and, if there’s one thing this defense does as well as nearly any team in the nation, is stopping the run. NC State’s run-stop unit has allowed an average of 104.8 rushing yards per game and I would submit that both the offense and defense are playing better than they have all season.
Since returning as the starting quarterback over the last three games, Brennan Armstrong has played his finest football of the season. The 6’2” senior has 6 passing touchdowns, no picks, and 2 rushing touchdowns while connecting on over 70% of his passes.
The Pick
As we look at the latest lines on this game I see the oddsmakers have done it again and installed the wrong favorite. As of this writing, it looks like there are still a handful of books dealing NC State +3 so take it if you can get it. And don’t be shy about putting a few bucks on the Cats on the money line as well!
NCAAF Pick: NC State +3 (-111) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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