By the time the Champs Sports Bowl rolls around on December 28, the college football betting stakes are starting to get a bit higher. Both West Virginia and North Carolina State made strong showings in their respective conferences this season and had time in the national top 25.
(22) West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3) vs North Carolina State Wolfpack (8-4)
Tuesday, December 28, 6:30 p.m. ET
Point Spread: West Virginia -3
Over/Under: 49
West Virginia finished 2010 strongly from a literal and a betting perspective, winning its last four games and going 3-0-1 against the spread over that span. The Mountaineers are also 7-1 ATS over their last eight games against teams with winning records. However, West Virginia hasn’t fared too well againstsportsbook odds in bowl games of late. The Mountaineers are 2-6 ATS over their last eight bowl games and 0-4 ATS over their last four bowl games when favored.
The over/under typically trends OVER for West Virginia in bowl games, going 5-1 over its last six trips; the over is also 8-3 over West Virginia’s last 11 December games.
Most of North Carolina State’s spread trends are positive. The Wolfpack surprised oddsmakers all year, going 9-3 ATS, and have beaten four of their last five spreads. N.C. State is also 21-8-1 ATS over its last 30 games as an underdog. As a respectable defensive team, N.C. State has dragged point totals UNDER five times in its last six games.
West Virginia brings an elite defense to the Champs Sports Bowl, ranking second in total defense (248.8 yards per game), second in run defense (82.6 YPG), second in points allowed (12.8 PPG) and 11th in pass defense (166.2 YPG). However, even though Noel Devine and Geno Smith are somewhat big names on offense, the Mountaineers were a pedestrian 65th in the country this year with 378.3 yards per game.
N.C. State has a more balanced offensive and defensive split, ranking 39th and 31st, respectively. This is a pass-first offense. Led by Russell Wilson, the Wolfpack are 18th in the country with 281.8 passing yards per game. They’re outstanding against the run, ranking 12th with 106.9 yards allowed per game, but they’re weak against the pass, ranking 79th with 227.5 yards allowed per contest.
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