NC State Wolfpack vs UCF Knights: Bitcoin Bowl Preview
Tomorrow night Dave Doeren’s NC State (7-5, 3-5) team will face the University of Central Florida (UCF) in St. Petersburg, Florida at the 2014 Bitcoin Bowl. The game will pit an old ACC foe in coach George O’Leary whose team captured their second consecutive American Athletic Conference title.
No Bortles Waiting
This year’s team did it without their star quarterback Blake Bortles who left UCF early to enter the National Football League. Tomorrow it will be 6’4″ sophomore quarterback Justin Holman leading the Knights. UCF (9-3, 7-1) winners of their last three bowl games will be appearing in their 5th bowl in the last 6 seasons. UCF closed the regular season in spectacular fashion as Holman won the game and conference on a a 51-yard Hail Mary toss as time expired to give them a 32-30 road win over East Carolina.
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Busting Brackets
The Wolfpack is coming off a momentum high and trouncing of arch rival North Carolina 35-7 on Nov. 29 to close the season. Brissett, one of a dozen Wolfpack players returning to their home state, transferred from the University of Florida before coming north to NC State. The West Palm Beach native has thrown for 2,344 yards, 22 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He has rushed for 498 yards and three TDs.
UCF fortunes lie with AAC defensive player of the year Jacoby Glenn who leads the team with seven interceptions and is a top 10 nationally ranked team in fewest yards allowed per game, as well as pass efficiency, rushing and scoring defense.
NC State Wolfpack Need Complete Game
Mandatory Credit: Liz Condo-USA TODAY Sports
The Wolfpack will need to be clicking on all cylinders if they are to be successful against the Knight’s stingy defense. The three-headed beast in Tony Creecy, Shadrach Thornton and Matt Dayes need to perform well as does Brissett.
Hopefully Brissett will continue the dynamic play he showed late this season as a dual passing and running threat. statistically, the Wolfpack enters the bowl game with the ACC’s most balanced offense: 2,472 rushing yards and 2,352 yards passing.
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PREDICTION: NC State 27 – UCF 20
Time: December 26, 2014 @ 8:00pm
Where: St. Petersburg, Florida
TV: ESPN