CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mississippi State and North Carolina State meeting in a bowl game is not a rare occurrence.
The two teams met in the 1963 Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MSU won 16-12 that day. The two teams met again in the 1995 Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia, with the Wolfpack claiming a 28-24 victory.
The Bulldogs (8-4) and Wolfpack (7-5) play 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) today in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. The matchup with be a rubber game for bowl games between the two teams.
NC State leads the all-time series 3-2, with the last meeting being the Peach Bowl. The two teams have struck a home-and-home deal for 2020 and 2021. The Bulldogs and Wolfpack will play at NC State in 2020 and in Starkville in 2021.
Both teams are looking to end losing skids. MSU lost to Ole Miss in the Battle for the Golden Egg, while NC State lost to in-state rival North Carolina to close the regular season.
It should be a fun game to watch with many storylines, but here are five things to pay close attention to:
1. Which quarterback will have the better day?
Both MSU and NC State are confident in the play of its quarterbacks.
The Bulldogs are led by senior Dak Prescott, who Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said is the most challenging thing about playing MSU. The Haughton, Louisiana, native has passed for 3,413 yards and 25 touchdowns against just four interceptions this season. He leads the team with 541 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Wolfpack senior Jacoby Brissett, who transferred in from the University of Florida, has passed for 2,448 yards and 19 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He has rushed for 303 yards and five touchdowns.
“I think it’s a great matchup,” MSU seventh-year coach Dan Mullen said. “It’s two guys that execute their offenses very, very well. What makes them special is, it’s two guys who can operate outside of the offense. It’s two guys that when the offense breaks down, they can make things happen and improvise on their own and make special things happen.”
Both quarterbacks have been a big reasons both teams have enjoyed winning seasons. The play of the quarterback may very well decide this game and you would have to think Prescott and MSU get the edge.
2. How will MSU’s offensive line hold up?
MSU’s offensive line has been in a work in progress.
The Bulldogs lost three starters (center Dillon Day, right guard Ben Beckwith and left tackle Blaine Clausell) from last year’s team. MSU felt confident in replacing them, but injuries have taken their toll on the line.
MSU has some veterans, but have had to mix and match in many games. The long season has worn on the Bulldog line and in the final three games (Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss), MSU allowed Prescott to be sacked 18 times.
“We’ve dealt with it all throughout the year,” Mullen said. “But I think our guys have understood that and the next guy up has to step up and be ready to play.
“They know we’re playing an excellent defensive line, but they’ve got to do a great job of helping control the line of scrimmage. If you can control the line of scrimmage, you have an opportunity to win.”
Junior center Jamaal Clayborn went down with a right foot/ankle injury on the fist day of practice at the bowl site, and Mullen said they will have to wait and see on his status. In Claybon’s stead, Justin Malone has moved to center, Devon Desper to left guard and Deion Calhoun has filled in at right guard.
The Wolfpack defense has recorded 31 sacks this season. MSU’s offensive line has faced better defenses and defensive lines, but the wear of the game may show late.
3. Who will lead the NC State rushing attack?
NC State’s leading rusher, junior Matt Dayes, won’t be able to play.
He suffered a foot injury against Clemson Oct. 31 and was lost for the season. He leads the Wolfpack with 865 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games played this season.
The NC State depth chart list either sophomore Dakwa Nichols or freshman Reggie Gallaspy II as the starting running back for the game. Gallaspy is second on the team with 316 yards on 66 carries. He has four rushing touchdowns. Nichols has 179 yards on 37 carries and one touchdown.
Sophomore fullback Jaylen Samuels, the leading receiver for the Wolfpack, has rushed for 315 yards and seven touchdowns.
Samuels started against Boston College, Gallaspy against Florida State, but Nichols started the final two games against Syracuse and North Carolina.
There’s not doubt that Dayes would have given the Wolfpack a different edge in this game, but they are hoping the combination of running backs will help. Brissett can do damage with his feet as well, but expect MSU to contain NC State’s rushing attack.
4. Can MSU start fast?
The Bulldogs have been plagued by slow starts.
In last year’s 49-34 loss to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, MSU fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, but only trailed 21-20 at halftime. A slow third quarter for MSU saw the Yellow Jackets score 21 points and put the game out of reach.
In the 2015 regular season finale, the Bulldogs fell behind in-state rival Ole Miss 21-0 and eventually trailed 28-3 in the second quarter. MSU lost 38-27.
Even mounting comebacks, those slow starts were too much for the Bulldogs to overcome. They don’t want that to happen again.
Watching practice and the interaction between the players, they seem ready to play in this game. I don’t expect MSU to start slow and I would not be surprised if they ran out to an early lead.
5. Will NC State have a home field advantage?
Raleigh, North Carolina, which is the home of the NC State campus, is only around 170 miles from Charlotte.
Being in the state of North Carolina, there are more Wolfpack fans than Bulldog fans. Many expect there to be a good contingent of NC State fans, and I expect that too with just the proximity of the bowl location.
MSU had not sold out its 8,000 ticket allotment, but I talked to several Bulldog fans who were going to make the trip from Mississippi.
Atlanta is only four hours south of Charlotte and there are a good many Bulldog fans there, and it is an easy drive up.
NC State will have the advantage crowd wise, but as you turn your television on to watch the game, expect to see some maroon and white.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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