Bowl season is underway, and the NC State Wolfpack and the Maryland Terrapins will compete for postseason bragging rights in the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium at noon ET on Friday. The Wolfpack are expected to win -- but not by much -- so they will need to come into the game prepared for a fight.
It may have taken double overtime to finish the job, but NC State ultimately got the result they were hoping for five weeks ago with a 30-27 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. The team accrued 17 points in the first half and coasted on those for the victory. NC State can attribute much of their success to WR Devin Carter, who caught six passes for one TD and 130 yards, and QB Ben Finley, who passed for two TDs and 271 yards on 40 attempts. That receiving effort made it the first game that Carter has posted more than 100 yards receiving.
Meanwhile, Maryland got themselves on the board against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights five weeks ago, but RU never followed suit. Maryland took their contest at home with ease, bagging a 37 to nothing victory over the Scarlet Knights. The matchup was all but wrapped up at the end of the third, by which point the Terrapins had established a 30 to nothing advantage. Their RB Roman Hemby did his thing and punched in three rushing touchdowns.
Special teams collected 13 points for Maryland. K Chad Ryland delivered a perfect 3-for-3 game.
Two numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: The Wolfpack enter the contest having picked the ball off 17 times, good for sixth in the nation. But the Terrapins enter the matchup with only six thrown interceptions, good for 15th best in the nation. These opposing strengths should make for an exciting matchup.