Coming off its best regular season in 30 years 8-4 Vanderbilt goes looking for a bowl victory when it take on 7-5 North Carolina State in the Music City Bowl New Year's Eve day in Nashville (noon ET, ESPN).
The early Music City Bowl odds were listing the Commodores, who went 5-3 in the SEC this season, as six-point favorites over the Wolfpack, who just fired Coach O'Brien after going 4-4 in ACC play.
Eight of the past 11 Music City Bowls have played UNDER and aforementioned NC State is a money-making 6-1-1 ATS in its past 8 bowl games. [ More Music City Bowl betting stats, matchup info and trends ]
View North Carolina State vs Vanderbilt Odds and Stats.
Betting Line: Oddsmakers at Sportsbook opened the Commodores as 5.5-point favorites in the matchup, while the betting total was 52 in early wagering over at Sportsbook.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Vanderbilt's No. 61-ranked offense (29.3 PPG) against a Wolfpack defense that ranks No. 45 at 24.6 PPG. The Commodores passing attack has averaged 222.2 yards per game, less than the Wolfpack give up through the air (261.8 YPG on average).
Defensively, the Wolfpack feature the league's No. 63-rated road run defense, allowing 173.2 yards per game. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, ranks No. 32 in rushing offense at home.
Last time out for North Carolina State, they were a 27-10 Sportsbook as they battled Boston College at home. North Carolina State covered in the match as a 13.5-point favorite, while 37 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Boston College was unable to contain Shadrach Thornton in its last action Saturday and the result was a 27-10 Week 13 loss against the Wolfpack.
Vanderbilt won its last outing, a 55-21 result against Wake Forest on November 24. Vanderbilt covered in that game as a 13-point favorite, while the 76 combined points took the game OVER the total. Wake Forest was unable to contain Zac Stacy in its last action Saturday and the result was a 55-21 Week 13 loss against the Commodores.
North Carolina State Wolfpack Trends:
When playing in December are 5-3
When playing on grass are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 6-4
When an underdog on the road are 4-6
Vanderbilt Commodores Trends:
When playing in December are 1-2
When playing on grass are 5-5
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When favored at home are 9-1
A few Wolfpack at Commodores trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of North Carolina State's last 7 games
North Carolina State is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games
Vanderbilt is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
