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The Kansas State Wildcats and the NC State Wolfpack will meet for the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 28, 2023, with kickoff at 5:45 PM ET, airing on ESPN.
The Wildcats are the favorites (-3) in their game against the Wolfpack, with the over/under being 47.5 points. (In terms of the moneyline, the Wildcats are -160 and the Wolfpack are +135.)
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Game Info for Kansas State vs. NC State
- Game Day: Thursday, December 28, 2023
- Game Time: 5:45 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Stadium: Camping World Stadium
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State | -3 | -110 | -110 | 47.5 | -110 | -110 | -160 | +135 |
Kansas State Pick Insights
- Kansas State has an 8-4-0 record against the spread this season.
- Kansas State has a 6-4 record against the spread in games it was favored by 3 points or more this season.
- Kansas State games with a set total have hit the over seven times this season (58.3%).
Kansas State Stats & Insights
- Offensively, Kansas State has been a top-25 unit, ranking 22nd-best in the FBS by totaling 446.3 yards per game. The defense ranks 58th (370.3 yards allowed per game).
- Kansas State ranks 31st in scoring defense this year (21.2 points allowed per game), but has been shining on offense, ranking 10th-best in the FBS with 37.8 points per game.
- On offense, Kansas State ranks 51st in the FBS with 246.4 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, the defense ranks 75th in passing yards allowed per contest (230.2).
- On the offensive side of the ball, Kansas State has been a top-25 unit in terms of rushing yards, ranking 14th-best in the FBS by putting up 199.9 per game. The Wildcats rank 47th on defense (140.2 rushing yards allowed per game).
- Kansas State has been a tough matchup for opposing teams on third down, ranking top-25 in both third-down offense (eighth-best with a 49.1% third-down conversion rate) and third-down defense (eighth-best with a 28.7% third-down percentage allowed) this season.
- Kansas State has forced 22 total turnovers (17th in the FBS) this season and have turned it over 11 times (12th in the FBS) for a turnover margin of +11, the fifth-best in college football.
Kansas State’s Best Players
- Will Howard has recorded 2,643 yards (220.3 ypg) on 219-of-358 passing with 24 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions this season. In addition, he’s added 354 rushing yards (29.5 ypg) on 81 carries while scoring nine touchdowns on the ground.
- DJ Giddens has racked up 1,075 yards on 195 carries while finding the end zone nine times as a runner. He’s also caught 28 passes for 286 yards (23.8 per game) and two touchdowns through the air.
- Treshaun Ward has collected 651 yards on 125 carries, scoring five times.
- Ben Sinnott’s team-leading 676 yards as a receiver have come on 49 receptions (out of 75 targets) with six touchdowns.
- Phillip Brooks has hauled in 53 receptions totaling 589 yards, finding the end zone five times as a receiver so far this campaign.
- Jayce Brown’s 22 catches are good enough for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
- Khalid Duke paces the team with six sacks, and also has seven TFL and 17 tackles.
- Kansas State’s leading tackler, Austin Moore, has 57 tackles, nine TFL, and 1.5 sacks this year.
- Kobe Savage has a team-leading three interceptions to go along with 53 tackles, three TFL, and three passes defended.
NC State Betting Insights
- So far this season, NC State has put together a 6-4-1 record against the spread.
- NC State is a 2-2-1 record against the spread when an underdog by 3 points or more this year.
- In NC State’s 11 games with a set total, four have hit the over (36.4%).
NC State Pick Insights
- NC State ranks 98th in the FBS with 346.3 total yards per contest, but it has been carried by its defense, which ranks 25th-best by giving up only 323.5 total yards per game.
- NC State ranks 69th in the FBS with 26.8 points per game, but it has been carried by its defense, which ranks 25th-best by giving up just 20.2 points per game.
- NC State is putting up 196.3 passing yards per game on offense this season (101st-ranked). Meanwhile, it is surrendering 218.8 passing yards per contest (57th-ranked) on defense.
- NC State’s run defense has been leading the way for the team, as it ranks 17th-best in the FBS with 104.8 rushing yards surrendered per game. In terms of offense, it is putting up 150.1 rushing yards per game, which ranks 77th.
- NC State’s defense has been excelling on third down, surrendering a 27.7% third-down conversion rate (fifth-best). Offensively, it ranks 65th in the FBS with a 39.3% third-down rate.
- NC State has compiled 24 forced turnovers this season and have turned it over 14 times, resulting in a +10 turnover margin, which ranks eighth-best in the FBS.
NC State’s Best Players
- Brennan Armstrong has thrown for 1,619 yards (134.9 ypg) to lead NC State, completing 62.4% of his passes and collecting 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions this season. He is also a playmaker on the ground, racking up 544 yards (45.3 ypg) on 126 carries with six touchdowns.
- Kevin Concepcion has 64 receptions for 767 yards (63.9 per game) and 10 touchdowns so far while also carrying the ball 38 times for 297 yards.
- Keyon Lesane has 28 receptions (on 46 targets) for a total of 247 yards (20.6 yards per game) this year.
- Bradley Rozner’s 18 catches (on 27 targets) have netted him 208 yards (17.3 ypg) and two touchdowns.
- Davin Vann has collected 6.5 sacks to pace the team, while also picking up five TFL and 37 tackles.
- So far Payton Wilson leads the team in both tackles and interceptions. He has totaled 133 tackles, 14 TFL, six sacks, and three interceptions this season.
