The Mississippi State Bulldogs face the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the Belk Bowl Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs finished with an 8-4 record on the year, and head coach Dan Mullen will look for his team to end the season with an impressive win after ending their regular season with a loss to in-state rival Ole Miss. The Wolfpack also ended their regular season with a disappointing loss to in-state rival North Carolina, and head coach Dave Doeren will look for his team to prove they are better then their 7-5 record.
The Wolfpack were unable to get a major signature win this season, but a win over an SEC team like Mississippi State in a Bowl game would be a big statement for their program. North Carolina State took care of business against inferior opponents this year but failed to get any big win in conference play. Doeren will need his quarterback Jacoby Brissett to play some of his best football Wednesday if the Wolfpack want to pull off the upset.
The Wolfpack senior quarterback has thrown for 2,448 yards with 19 touchdowns to four interceptions. At 6-foot-4, 235-pounds, Brissett is a dual threat behind center and has rushed over 300 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns. Brissett has not thrown over 300 yards in any game this season, and the Wolfpack will need him to have a big afternoon if they want to keep pace with the Bulldogs' offense.
The Wolfpack lost their starting running back Matt Dayes with a foot injury back in November, and freshman running back Reggie Gallaspy II has stepped up in his absence, especially in the final two games of the regular season. Gallaspy rushed for 158 yards in the final two games for the Wolfpack and was averaging over 5.8 yards per carry.
North Carolina State's defense has struggled this year and is ranked 72nd in the nation in efficiency, and they face arguably one of their toughest challenges on the season in stopping Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott. The Bulldogs senior quarterback is playing in his final game in a Mississippi State uniform, and he will want to end his college career on a high note especially after falling short in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs 6-foot-2, 230 pound quarterback is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks on the collegiate level and has had another incredible season under center. Prescott has thrown over 3,400 yards on the year with 25 touchdowns to just four interceptions. The Bulldogs quarterback can take off on his feet as well, and he has rushed for 541 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground. Prescott is a challenge for any defense, and the Wolfpack will have to gang tackle, as he can break through tackles easily.
Prescott will look to target wide receivers Fred Ross and De'Runnya Wilson against North Carolina State's defense, as the tandem receivers are difficult to contain. Ross leads the team with 933 receiving yards and has played incredibly well down the stretch of the season, with over 100 receiving yards in each of the Bulldogs' last four games.
Both teams have struggled on defense this year, and both head coaches are looking to prove their programs are better than their current records. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time, and you can watch the live broadcast here. To listen to the Bulldogs' radio broadcast, click here, and for the Wolfpack's radio broadcast, go here.
