Duke’s Mayo Bowl: No. 25 North Carolina State (8-4, Atlantic Coast Conference) vs. Maryland (7-5, Big Ten), Dec. 30, 1 p.m. Eastern (Fox)
FanDuel Sportsbook College Line: Maryland by 1/2
Series record: Series tied 33-33-4.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
A mayonnaise bath for the winning coach — and hopefully he will not get clocked over the head with a bucket like what happened last year to South Carolina’s Shane Beamer. This is NC State’s third appearance in the game which has changed sponsors twice. They lost to Mississippi State 51-28 in 2015 and beat Central Florida 14-0 in 2005. This will be Maryland’s first appearance in the game.
KEY MATCHUP
Maryland RBs Roman Hemby and Antwain Littleton vs. Wolfpack defense. With WRs Rakim Jarrett, Jacob Copeland, and Dontay Demus Jr, having left the program, the Terrapins are expected to lean heavily on their running game led by Hemby (924 yards, 10 TDs) and Littleton (370 yards, six TDs). North Carolina State features the nation’s 12th best run defense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
North Carolina State: LB Drake Thomas. He’s the heart and soul of the Wolfpack defense. He has 90 tackles, including 15 for a loss, along with 6 1/2 sacks.
Maryland: QB Taulia Tagovailoa. The younger brother of Miami Dolphins QB Tau Tagovailoa, he threw for 17 touchdown passes and ran for four more scores. He has not thrown an interception in his last three games.
FACTS & FIGURES
North Carolina State’s quarterback situation has been muddled with four different players starting at the position. Devin Leary entered the transfer portal following an injury and it’s unclear who’ll start for the Wolfpack. MJ Morris suffered a lower-body injury on Nov. 12. If he’s unable to play, Ben Finley could get the start. Finley completed 27 of 40 passes for 271 years and two touchdowns in the 30-27 double overtime upset victory against then-No. 17 North Carolina. … Wolfpack WR Devin Carter opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft. … Maryland was 6-2 before losing three straight games. The Terrapins closed the regular season with a win over Rutgers. … Maryland won the last matchup 41-21 on Nov. 30, 2013.
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