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Boxing Kansas State Wildcats vs North Carolina State Wolfpack Picks: December 28 Kansas State vs N.C. State Preview, Betting Odds and NCAAF Picks
The North Carolina State Wolfpack and Kansas State Wildcats will meet for the first time when they contest the Pop Tarts Bowl Game on Thursday. The Wildcats starting QB Will Howard has announced that he is leaving the team to enter the transfer portal, so Avery Johnson will be making his first collegiate start in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
With the experienced Brennan Armstrong playing his final game for the Wolfpack, North Carolina State has relished the underdog role and it has our resident expert Ej Garr thinking about an upset in the making!
- Kansas State Wildcats vs North Carolina State Wolfpack Picks
- Kansas State Wildcats vs North Carolina State Wolfpack Game Info
- Kansas State Wildcats vs North Carolina State Wolfpack Betting Lines
- Kansas State Wildcats vs North Carolina State Wolfpack Trends
- Kansas State Wildcats vs North Carolina State Wolfpack Stats & Form
- Kansas State Wildcats vs North Carolina State Wolfpack Where to Watch
- Safer Gambling
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS VS NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK PICKS AND PREDICTION
Avery Johnson will be making his first start for the Wildcats under center, and that is a result of Will Howard announcing that he wants to play his final season in another uniform in 2024. Now that Howard has hit the transfer portal early, Johnson has to prepare to lead his team into battle as the guy running the offense, and he does, at least, have some experience around him.
Sophomore running back Dj Giddens gained 1,075 yards on the ground, and the offensive line is among the most experienced units in all of college football. The starting 5 O-Linemen have played in a combined 228 games making 169 starts, so let’s not make it out as if Johnson doesn’t know that he just needs to control the ball as best he can and not turn the ball over.
Johnson scored 6 TD with his legs from his 7 appearances during the season, although he has only attempted a total of 35 passes in his career. He has never thrown a ball to the wrong team, however, as he has thrown 3 TD passes without a pick against him which isn’t bad at all. In all, Jackson ran the ball 44 times, and attempted 35 passes! Keeping the ball on the ground is the undoubted approach for the Wildcats in this game.
Brennan Armstrong hasn’t left the team, and all he wants to do is win his final game as a collegiate. The Virginia transfer came to Raleigh to help this team win something, albeit it just ends up being a Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy, but he hasn’t given up the fight.
Armstrong led the Wolfpack to a 5 – 0 record to finish the regular season, and that included wins over Miami, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina as underdogs. If you recall, I was handing out the Wolfpack to cover two of those games right here at Bettingexpert, so I know a thing or two about the fight in the Wolfpack.
When Armstrong is on, he is as dangerous a passing QB as he is on the ground, so both of these play-callers in this game will be seen scooting across the field at any given time.
Armstrong only accumulated a total of 1,619 passing yards in the regular season, and I think all of us would have expected to see big numbers for a 9 – 3 Wolfpack team. With only 11 TD passes this year and 6 interceptions, one might wonder how this team did so well because that is a far cry from the 4,449 passing yards he produced at Virginia the year before he left the Cavaliers. His senior leadership is great, but he also takes a lot of chances in the passing game.
This total is hysterically low to me, and there will be 48 points scored I have zero doubt about it.
My Pop Tarts Bowl prediction: Wolfpack 31 – 28 Wildcats
They will get closer to 60 points than they will with the 50, so you can bank on the total to fly over the number. Wolfpack outright wins, and we cash two tickets! I will make my main play the total, but the 2.20 offer on the Wolfpack is worth your action.
Odds available as of December 27, 2023. Odds may now differ.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS VS NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK GAME INFO
- Thursday, December 27
- Time: 22:45 UK Time
- Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS VS NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK BETTING LINES
| Pop Tarts Bowl Betting Lines | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet365 Odds | Moneyline | Match Total | Match Handicap |
| Kansas St. | 1.70 | Over 47.50 | Wildcats -2.50 |
| N.C State | 2.20 | Under 47.50 | Wolfpack +2.50 |
Odds available as of December 27, 2023. Odds may now differ.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS VS NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK TRENDS
- N.C. State has hit the Moneyline in 8 of their last 12 games.
- Kansas State has hit the 1H Game Total Over in 9 of their last 12 games.
- Kansas State has only hit the 1H Game Total Under in 2 of their last 12 games.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS VS NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK STATS AND FORM
The Wildcats have a 10 – 14 record in Bowl Games, and they have lost two of their last 3 post-season games.
The Wolfpack hold a 17 – 16 – 1 Bowl Game record, and they have lost their last 3 post-season games.
The Wolfpack finished the regular season winning 6 of their final 7 games to clinch a 9 – 3 record and an appearance in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Will Howard started 12 games for the Wildcats, and his absence in the Pop-Tarts Bowl will leave tough shoes to fill. Howard pounded 9 balls into the end zone with his legs, and his 24 – 10 TD to INT ratio will also be something we cannot expect to see from his replacement Avery Johnson.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS VS NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK: WHERE TO WATCH THE POP TARTS BOWL
The Pop-Tarts Bowl can be seen on the ESPN free telecast or for ESPN+ subscribers.
SAFER GAMBLING
At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.
