Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest: Music City Bowl Spread Info, Line and More

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Mississippi State Bulldogs are heading to Nashville for the Music City Bowl this Friday and it promises to be exciting.

Both teams had extremely hard schedules and finished at .500 on the season, so they’ll be looking to secure a winning record by claiming victory in the postseason.

These are two tough teams that are hard to beat in the postseason, so expect a hard-fought contest.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the Music City Bowl.

Where: LP Field, Nashville, TN

When: Friday, Dec. 30 at 6:40 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN/ESPN3, DirecTV: 206

Listen: Mississippi State Radio Affiliates, WBRF-FM 98.1 – Wake Forest

Betting Line: Mississippi State -7

Key Storyline

Both teams were barely bowl eligible at 6-6, but could care less now that they are competing against one another with a 0-0 postseason record.

It’s going to be a good one; both teams will fight hard for a final win in 2011.

Who Might Not Play for Mississippi State

QB Chris Relf – Probable

QB Tyler Russell – Doubtful

Who Might Not Play for Wake Forest

OL Steven Chase – Questionable

RB Josh Harris – Probable

WR/KR Lovell Jackson - Doubtful

What it Means for Mississippi State

Mississippi State is looking for their fifth straight bowl victory in the last 13 years.

This is a program that wanes in and out of the spotlight throughout their history, like they have done this season with close games against LSU, South Carolina and Alabama. 

What it Means for Wake Forest

Wake Forest started their season off hot, emerging as an ACC contender after beating then-ranked Florida State.

They then dropped five of their last six games, proving they weren’t ready for the big time just yet. The Deacons have a chance to end their tumultuous season on a high note with a win here on Friday.

What They're Saying

The News Observer found that Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is proud of his players for making this bowl game and will try to improve upon the school’s 6-3 all-time postseason record.

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"We couldn't be more excited to be playing in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl," said Grobe.  "Our players, coaches and fans are looking forward to this wonderful opportunity in Nashville.  Traveling to Nashville during the Christmas holiday will be a great experience for our families and the players."

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The News Observer also noted that Mississippi State’s athletic director is happy his program got to their second straight bowl game.

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"A second straight postseason bowl berth is a credit to the hard work of coach Mullen, his staff and our football student-athletes," Mississippi State Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said.  "We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to joining the thousands of other Bulldogs in Nashville for a great bowl experience."

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Mississippi State Player to Watch: Vick Ballard

This second-team All-SEC stud ranked fourth in the conference with 1,009 rushing yards.  It doesn't hurt that he has a great offensive line to run behind.

He’ll certainly be a key to the game; a big day from Ballard means a likely Bulldog win.

Wake Forest Player to Watch: Chris Givens

Givens led the ACC in receiving yards per game with 106.3 and set a school record with 1,276 total receiving yards on 74 receptions.  And he added nine touchdowns for good measure.

Mississippi State really needs to contain him if they want to win this game.

Prediction

Mississippi State 28 – Wake Forest 21