NC State vs. Mississippi State

BELK BOWL: North Carolina State went 4-2 away from home this season and catches a break as this Belk Bowl will be in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Wolfpack are playing a short distance from home and have 15 players from the Charlotte area, including all-purpose running back and tigth end Jaylen Samuels (315 rushing yards, seven TDs; 64 receptions, 599 yards, seven TDs). NC State has an outstanding QB in Jacoby Brissett (19 TDs, four INTs) while adding 303 yards and five TDs on the ground. NC State coach Dave Doeren is 2-0 in bowl games, including a 34-27 win over Central Florida in last year's St. Petersburg Bowl as a dog, his first postseason trip with the Wolfpack. Mississippi State expected to be in a better bowl, losing two of its last three games. Turnovers were a major problem late in the season, as Mississippi State had nine giveaways over its final four games, including at least two in each contest. The defense had its share of struggles against top competition, especially against the run. Five of their opponents rolled up more than 200 rushing yards against the Bulldogs with another finishing just six yards shy of that mark. For NC State, this will be the third time the Wolfpack have played in the bowl, defeating Louisville 31-24 in 2011 and beat South Florida 14-0 in the 2005 game. Take NC State to win this one straight-up.