Sun Bowl 2017: NC State vs. ASU: TV Schedule, Time and Odds
The NC State Wolfpack and Arizona State Sun Devils are similar in many ways, but there's also one striking difference between this season's Sun Bowl participants.
Both teams have the potential to light up the scoreboard behind talented quarterbacks Ryan Finley and Manny Wilkins, and both teams could also flex plenty of defensive muscle.
However, the one glaring difference is NC State has a somewhat stable coaching situation, and Arizona State's has turned into the laughing stock of college football alongside Tennessee.
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A few schools looked at Dave Doeren, but he ultimately decided to stay at NC State for another season. Todd Graham, who will coach Arizona State in the Sun Bowl, was fired and replaced by Herman Edwards. In the weeks after Edwards' hiring, the Sun Devils lost their offensive and defensive coordinators, who were originally set to stay under the new regime.
NC State is approaching the game with a business-as-usual mindset, while Arizona State is trying to piece everything together before the new coaching staff takes over.
Date: Friday, December 29
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBS Sports App
Odds: NC State (-6.5); Over/Under: 59.5
How NC State Will Win
The health of NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb has been shrouded in secrecy since the Wolfpack landed in El Paso, Texas, for the Sun Bowl.
Doeren and Chubb haven't confirmed the status of the coveted NFL prospect, but the NC State head coach said the staff knows what the game-time decision will be on Chubb, per azcentral.com.
Losing an NFL talent who has 23 tackles for loss and 10 sacks will be a blow to the Wolfpack, but it's one they can overcome.
Defensive tackle Justin Jones will be one of the players tasked with replacing Chubb's output. Jones was a menace in his own right with 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Jerod Fernandez, Jarius Morehead and Germaine Pratt are also worth watching on the defensive side of the ball for the Wolfpack.
Offensively, the Wolfpack have plenty of weapons to fuel Finley's success in the pocket. Running back Nyheim Hines is over 1,000 rushing yards, Kelvin Harmon is seven yards short of 1,000 receiving yards and Jaylen Samuels is a versatile asset few programs in the country possess.
Look for Finley to spread the ball out from the start, and don't be surprised if the Wolfpack entrust Samuels with the ball on a few trick plays. Samuels has a completion to his name to go along with 551 receiving yards and 383 rushing yards.
It's no surprise that with all the skilled players in the NC State offense, the Wolfpack have racked up over 30 points in six of their eight victories.
But putting up impressive totals in every stat category isn't the aim for the Wolfpack on Friday. The main goal will be to finish the season strongly after losing three of their last five games, including back-to-back defeats to ranked foes Notre Dame and Clemson.
How Arizona State Will Win
Wilkins has the same array of playmakers surrounding him in the Arizona State offense.
Demario Richard has put together four straight 100-yard rushing games to come close to reaching the 1,000-yard plateau and Kaden Ballage is a viable option at running back to spell Richard.
N'Keal Harry is the Sun Devils' 1,000-yard receiver, but he's far from the only target in the passing game as Kyle Williams and Jalen Harvey have also played major roles.
One of the few roadblocks the Arizona State offense has run into this season is the departure of offensive coordinator Billy Napier, who took the head coaching position at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Promoted wide receivers and quarterbacks coach Rob Likens will be in charge of the offense for the first time at the Sun Bowl, and the Sun Devils are hoping his familiarity with the players will make the transition as smooth as possible.
If Chubb doesn't play, look for Arizona State to run at his replacement right away and then open up the Wolfpack defense through the passing game.
Defensively, Christian Sam will be one of the players tasked with keeping an eye on the many variations in which NC State uses Samuels. Sam leads the Sun Devils with 127 tackles, 87 of which are of the solo variety.
Sam and D.J. Calhoun will most likely split duties watching Samuels and bringing extra pressure against Finley. If the pair of linebackers can effectively wear down the NC State offensive line and give Samuels little room to work with, the Sun Devils will enter the Edwards era on a high note.
Prediction
NC State has the more versatile set of offensive options than Arizona State, and regardless of Chubb's presence, the Wolfpack defense should get ample pressure on Wilkins.
Arizona State is a terrific matchup for NC State, but the Sun Devils don't have someone like Samuels on offense who can do it all from every spot on the field. Expect Samuels to be the X-factor in the bowl victory for the Wolfpack.
NC State 37, Arizona State 29
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from ESPN.com and Sports Reference.
Odds obtained from OddsShark.com.
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