Both the NC State Wolfpack and the Mississippi State Bulldogs are heading to Charlotte after frustrating losses in their respective conferences. They have a chance to end their season with a bowl win, though, as they square off in this year’s edition of the Belk Bowl.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]The Wolfpack finished with a 3-5 conference record, but thanks to wins over gimme teams like Troy, Eastern Kentucky, Old Dominion, and South Alabama plus three of the worst teams in the ACC, NC State managed to become bowl eligible. In other words, the Wolfpack can consider themselves lucky that they’re going bowling for the second straight year.
Being lucky, however, won’t cut it for NC State when it faces the Bulldogs. Before anything else, the Bulldogs will have to set the tone on offense with Florida transfer Jacoby Brissett at the helm. In a way, Brissett mirrors how Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott plays, as he’s also a dual-threat quarterback, one that enters the Belk Bowl having passed for 2,448 and 19 touchdowns with four touchdowns on the season. In addition, Brissett has also rushed for 303 yards with five touchdowns.
With the dangerous Jaylen Samuels waiting for passes down field, Brissett could have some success against Mississippi State’s defense that has allowed 39.6 points in its last three games. Samuels only has 599 receiving yards thus far this year, but is tied for fourth in the ACC with seven touchdown receptions.
On the other side of the ball, the Wolfpack definitely have to contain Prescott. It’s a tall task to contain Prescott’s arm, but if the Wolfpack can take away his legs, then NC State may keep the game close enough to steal a win.
NC State, which is 4-6 ATS in its last 10 games, is 39th in the nation in scoring offense with 33.7 points per game.
Betting on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 SEC)
Dak Prescott’s final game in Starkville didn’t end well, as the Bulldogs lost to Ole Miss, 38-27, in the Egg Bowl. Prescott, however, at least has a shot at ending his Bulldogs career on a winning note, when they take on NC State.
Mississippi State is expected to bring its high-powered offense that has the team ranking 16th in passing yards (311.1 per game), and 44th in scoring offense (33.0 points per game) to Charlotte. Of course, the man mostly responsible for that attack is Prescott, who’s been deadly this season. He racked up 3,413 passing yards and 25 touchdowns with only four interceptions, and also rushed for team-highs of 541 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
Contrary to what those numbers suggest, Prescott can’t do it all. One big reason why the Bulldogs lost in the Egg Bowl was the team’s soft offensive line that let the Rebels sack Prescott seven times. Over the last four games, Prescott has been sacked 21 times. That doesn’t bode well for Mississippi State, which would face NC State’s pass rush that is 28th in the nation with 31.0 sacks.
Prescott aside, the Bulldogs also have an advantage on defense, despite a poor performance lately. The Bulldogs are 36th overall in scoring defense with 22.8 points allowed per contest, and should be able to make NC State sweat for yardage.
Mississippi State is 5-0 SU 4-1 ATS in its last five games as the favorite.
