The 18th-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack will face the No. 25-ranked Kansas State Wildcats on Thursday in the Pop-Tarts Bowl 2023. The Wolfpack (9-3, 6-2 ACC), who are competing in their 34th bowl game all-time, are 5-5 in their last 10 bowl games since 2010. The Wildcats (8-4, 6-3 Big 12), playing in their 25th bowl, are 4-7 in bowl games since the 2010 season. North Carolina State is looking for its first bowl win since beating Arizona State in the Sun Bowl in 2017, while Kansas State last won a bowl game in January 2022, topping LSU in the Texas Bowl.
The game will kick off at 5:45 p.m. ET from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. North Carolina State is averaging 196.4 passing yards per game, 101st-best in the country, while Kansas State averages 246.4, 51st overall. The Wildcats are favored by 3 points in the latest North Carolina State vs. Kansas State SportsLine odds, per SportsLine consensus, while the over-under for total points scored is 48.5. Before making any Kansas State vs. NC State picks, be sure to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a strong profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. The model entered bowl season a profitable 13-9 on top-rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on NC State vs. Kansas State and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Kansas State vs. NC State:
- NC State vs. Kansas State spread: Kansas State -3
- NC State vs. Kansas State over/under: 48.5 points
- NC State vs. Kansas State money line: NC State +124, Kansas State -147
- NCST: The Wolfpack covered in the last five games of the regular season
- KST: The Wildcats have hit the first-half game total over in 9 of their last 12 games (+7.00 units)
- NC State vs. Kansas State picks: See picks at SportsLine
- NC State vs. Kansas State live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why Kansas State can cover
Junior tight end Ben Sinnott is one of the top targets on offense for the Wildcats. He has 49 catches for a team-high 676 yards (13.8 average) and six touchdowns. He had 10 receptions for 136 yards and one touchdown in a 42-35 loss to Iowa State on Nov. 25. In 11 games, he has two 100-yard-plus performances and has at least three catches in nine games. In a 30-27 loss at Missouri on Sept. 16, he caught five passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
Also leading the way for Kansas State is fifth-year senior wide receiver Phillip Brooks. He has a team-high 53 receptions for 589 yards (11.1 average) and five touchdowns. He has at least one catch in all 12 games, including three or more in 11 games. In a 33-30 overtime loss at Texas on Nov. 4, he caught five passes for 76 yards and two scores. See which team to pick here.
Why NC State can cover
One of the Wolfpack's top weapons is wide receiver Kevin Concepcion. The multi-faceted freshman not only leads the team in receptions, but he is second in rushing and has also thrown the ball. Concepcion has 64 catches for 767 yards (12.0 average) and 10 touchdowns, with a long of 72 yards. He also has carried 38 times for 297 yards (7.8 average), and has one completion in two attempts for 17 yards.
Junior defensive back Devan Boykin is a big reason the Wolfpack have one of the best defenses in the country. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions, while also adding 54 total tackles and three tackles for loss. Boykin has interceptions in three of his last five games, and he also contributed a forced fumble in his last contest versus UNC on Nov. 25. See which team to pick here.
How to make NC State vs. Kansas State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 50 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only get the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Kansas State vs. NC State, and which side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that's up over $2,000 on its top-rated college football picks, and find out.
