The 9-3 NC State Wolfpack take on the 8-4 Kansas State Wildcats in this year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl. Both teams were heavily impacted by the transfer portal, with the Wildcats losing multiple key players on defense. The Wolfpack lost a lot of depth, but only one real contributor on the defensive side. Kansas State will also be without their 2023 starting quarterback Will Howard. Despite the losses, the Wildcats are favored by 2.5 points at most sportsbooks, and the total sits at 47.5.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl: What is the Wolfpack Defense Without Wilson?
NC State will be playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl without Payton Wilson, who was arguably the best defensive player in the country. Wilson was an All-American linebacker who led the team in four major stat categories. He also won the Dick Butkus Award for best linebacker and the Chuck Bednarik Award for best defensive player. His presence will be heavily missed as a disruptive tackler who can also make big plays in the pass-defense game. The Wolfpack also lost C.J. Clark to the transfer portal who was a solid presence on the defensive line. Thankfully for the Wolfpack, the great secondary remains intact, and linebacker Jaylen Scott will be playing. Scott will have massive shoes to fill, and the entire defensive unit will have to step up to replace Wilson’s production. The team as a whole allowed just 20.2 points per game and was a top-20 run defense. The Wildcats rely heavily on the run game, so NC State should find success limiting the scoring.
On offense, the majority of the Wolfpack return from the 2023 regular season. Signal-Caller Brennan Armstrong will be active for Thursday’s contest. Armstrong had a rough start but finished the season in strong fashion. He led the team in rushing yards and finished the season throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns against rival UNC. Kevin Concepcion will be a key to the offensive success as usual. With heavy losses to the defense, the Wildcats will be hard-pressed to stop Concepcion’s dynamic playmaking ability. He was second on the team in rushing yards while also amassing 767 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. The key to success for NC State will be controlling possession and finding ways to get the ball into the hands of Concepcion to exploit the loss of Wildcat’s defensive talent.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl: Kansas State Preview
The Kansas State Wildcats featured a strong defensive unit of their own, allowing only 21.2 points per game. However, the starting 11 for the Wildcats will look much different in the bowl game. The team lost star safety Kobe Savage who had three interceptions this season and will also be without Nate Matlack who had 7.5 tackles for losses and four sacks this season. However, this unit was disruptive as a whole, creating 22 turnovers and 73 tackles for losses as a whole. The Wildcat defense has to put pressure on Armstrong and limit the Wolfpack rushing attack to have success. The Wildcats allowed 140.2 rushing yards per game and will need a good showing to keep NC State out of the endzone.
On the offensive side of the ball, the key loss is not just at quarterback. Ben Sinnott and Phillip Brooks both entered the transfer portal. Sinnott and Brooks totaled 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Wildcats. However, the team’s leading rusher D.J. Giddens will play. Giddens was phenomenal this season, rushing for 1075 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 286 yards and two touchdowns through the air. The Wildcats will play Avery Johnson at quarterback. Johnson was solid in his limited appearances, completing 65.7% of his passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns. However, Kansas State will have to rely on Giddens to break through a stout Wolfpack run defense.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl Outlook and Prediction
This game looks to be a battle of solid run games against solid run defenses. Both teams will look to establish the run but will have to do so against successful defenses. The Wildcats are unfortunately missing more production, and it may prove to be the difference in this ballgame. The key matchup will be the Wildcats’ Giddens against the Wolfpack linebackers without Wilson. If the NC State defense can still effectively stop the run game, it will be very difficult for Kansas State to win. Likewise, the Wildcats will have to stop Armstrong and freshman running back Kendrick Raphael from finding success on the ground. The Wolfpack will also look to establish their run game while finding ways to get the ball into the hands of Concepcion in space. As is the case in most NC State Wolfpack football games, the team that wins the turnover battle and controls the time of possession will win this contest. Expect the Wolfpack secondary to create a turnover against an inexperienced quarterback, and Kansas State to fall to a Wolfpack team attempting to reach 10 wins for the first time under coach Dave Doeren.
Final Prediction: NC State 24, Kansas State 20
