Mountaineer Monday: Champs Sports Bowl Preview Edition

For these two squads, the preseason predictions had one team finishing at the bottom of their respective league, and the other outright winning the league in 2010

For the Wolfpack, the predicted 4thplace finish was averted by the play of Russell Wilson and the tremendous passing offense displayed in Raleigh this season.

North Carolina State finished the 2010 season 2nd in the ACC Atlantic Division as they came up short against Maryland in the season finale, propelling Florida State to the ACC title game this season.

For the Mountaineers, the program entered with high hopes of winning the Big East as star players Noel Devine and Jock Sanders returned for their senior seasons looking at big goals in Morgantown.

The dreams of the first outright Big East title since 2005 were shredded after a two game losing streak to Syracuse at home and Connecticut on the road after poor offense output in both games.

The two teams will look to put a exclamation point on 2010 with a win in their bowl later this month on December 29th in South Florida.

With that being said, let’s get to the breakdown of the Champs Sports Bowl between these two marquee teams from the ACC and Big East...

This article is also featured on A Blue & Gold State of Mind.

History

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RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 28: A sign for Russell Wilson #16 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 28, 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Im

Overall Record: West Virginia Leads 5-4

First Meeting: 10/22/1914 – NCSU 26, WVU 13

Last Meeting: 09/22/1979 – NCSU 38, WVU 14

Biggest WVU Win: 61-0 – 11/21/1953

Biggest NC State Win: 49-13 – 12/29/1972 Peach Bowl

West Virginia National Rankings

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Geno Smith#12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers throws a pass during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy

Offense –

Total: 64th Nationally with 376 Yards per Game

Passing: 66th Nationally with 214 Yards per Game

Rushing: 49th Nationally with 162 Yards per Game

Defense –

Total: 3rd Nationally with 251 Yards per Game

Passing: 11th Nationally with 166 Yards per Game

Rushing: 2nd Nationally with 85 Yards per Game

North Carolina State National Rankings

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RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 28: Russell Wilson #16 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack throws the game winning touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 28, 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by

Offense –

Total: 39thNationally with 406 Yards per Game

Passing: 19th Nationally with 281 Yards per Game

Rushing: 93rd Nationally with 125 yards per Game

Defense –

Total: 35th Nationally with 340 Yards per Game

Passing: 78th Nationally with 227 Yards per Game

Defense: 12th Nationally with 113 Yards per Game

Quarterbacks

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Geno Smith#12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers throws a pass during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy

WVU, Geno Smith – 219-333 Attempts, 2567 Yards, 94 Carries, 158 Yards, 23 Touchdowns, Six Interceptions

NC State, Russell Wilson – 280-482 Attempts, 3288 Yards, 129 Carries, 394 Rushing Yards, 14 35 Total Touchdowns, 14 Interceptions

EDGE: WVU

Running Backs

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RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 28: Mustafa Greene #33 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack runs with the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 28, 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/

WVU, Noel Devine – 201 Carries, 886 Yards, 30 Catches, 237 Yards, Seven Total Touchdowns

NC State, Mustafa Green – 131 Carries, 584 Rushing Yards, 29 Catches, 256 Yards Receiving, and Five Touchdowns Total

EDGE: North Carolina State

Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Ryan Clarke #32 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo

WVU, Tavon Austin – 53 Catches, 757 Yards, 14 Carries, 152 Yards, Nine Total Touchdowns

NC State, Owen Spencer – 57 Catches, 868 Yards, 4 Touchdowns

EDGE: WVU

Offensive Lines

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BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 25: Quarterback Geno Smith #12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers in action against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

WVU 2010 Experience:  Four Seniors, Six Juniors

NC State 2010 Experience: Four Seniors, Three Juniors, Three Sophomores, Two Freshmen

EDGE: WVU

Defensive Lines

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Dominique Brown #10 of the Louisville Cardinals is tackled by Doug Rigg #47 of the West Virginia Mountaineers during the game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyon

WVU, Julian Miller – 25 Tackles (25 Solo), 10 Tackles For Loss, 7 Sacks, Forced Fumble

NC State, JR Sweezy – 33 Tackles (17 Solo), 4 Sacks, Forced Fumble

EDGE: WVU

Linebackers

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Justin Burke #13 of the Louisville Cardinals is sacked by Bruce Irvin #11 of the West Virginia Mountaineers during the game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/

WVU, Anthony Leonard – 28 Tackles (37 Solo), Sack, Forced Fumble

NC State, Nate Irving - .46 Tackles (42 Solo), 16 Tackles For Loss, 5 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles

EDGE: WVU

Defensive Backs

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 13: Adrien Robinson #88 of the Cincinnati Bearcats is hit by Keith Tandy #8 of the West Virginia Mountaineers to fumble the ball in the first quarter of the game at Nippert Stadium on November 13, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo b

WVU, Keith Tandy – Six Interceptions, 17 Tackles (37 Solo), Forced Fumble, Tackle For Loss

NC State, Brandan Bishop– Three Interceptions, 34 Tackles (27 Solo), Forced Fumble

EDGE: WVU

Special Teams

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Geno Smith#12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by

WVU, Tyler Bitancurt -  40-40 PAT Attempts, 10-15 Field Goals

NC State, Josh Czajkowski – 40-41 PAT Attempts, 17-22 Field Goals

EDGE: WVU

Coaching Staff

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BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Bill Stewart of the West Virginia Mountaineers talks with his team during a timeout against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers de

WVU, Bill Stewart – Third Year, 28-11 Overall Record, One Conference Championship (2010)

NC State, Tom O’Brien – Fourth Year, 21-22 Overall Record

EDGE: WVU

Prediction

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Noel Devine #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo b

Keys to a WVU Win:

-   Excellent Play from Geno Smith

-   Increased use of Tavon Austin in the passing game

-   Avoid the turnover bug that plagued the offense lately

Keys to a NCSU Win:

-   Continued steady play of Russell Wilson

-   Throw down field against a sometimes fragile secondary

-   Control the run against the trio of Alston, Clark, and Devine

Pick: West Virginia 28, North Carolina State 20