Bowl Projections: Through Five Weeks, NC State a Popular Media Pick to Make Sixth Appearance; Could K-State Make Debut?

The 28th Camping World Bowl is still a few months away, but it’s never too early to start predicting which ACC and Big 12 teams might be headed to Orlando for the game. Here’s a round-up of projections from around the college football media world through Week 5.

Kyle Bonagura (ESPN): Notre Dame vs. Texas
David M. Hale (ESPN): NC State vs. Kansas State
Eric Single (Sports Illustrated): Georgia Tech vs. Kansas State
Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com): Virginia Tech vs. Kansas State
Bill Bender (Sporting News): Florida State vs. Oklahoma State
Jason Kirk (SB Nation): Florida State vs. Texas
CollegeFootballNews.com: NC State vs. West Virginia
Brett McMurphy: NC State vs. West Virginia

Notre Dame vs. Texas

• Teams have played 12 times dating back to 1913; Notre Dame leads the all-time series 9-3
• Three previous meetings were played in the Cotton Bowl
  • Texas won in 1970, while Notre Dame won in 1971 and 1978, the latter wrapping up an Irish national championship
• In their most recent matchup, last season, Texas won 50-47 in double-overtime in front of a Darrell K. Royal Stadium-record crowd of 102,315
• This would be Texas’ first appearance in the Camping World Bowl
• Notre Dame appeared in the game once, in 2011, losing 18-14 to Florida State in front of 68,305 fans, the bowl’s largest attendance since moving to Orlando in 2001

NC State vs. Kansas State

• • No previous matchups
  • NC State has played in the Camping World Bowl five times, tied with Miami for the most appearances in the game’s history
  • This would be Kansas State’s first appearance in the game

Quarterback Russell Wilson was named MVP of the 2010 Champs Sports Bowl (now Camping World Bowl) after leading North Carolina State to a 23-7 win over West Virginia. Several members of the media have NC State tabbed as a favorite to return again in 2017.

Georgia Tech vs. Kansas State

• The Yellow Jackets and Wildcats have never played
• Georgia Tech played in the 2004 Camping World Bowl, defeating Syracuse 51-14
  • The Jackets also appeared in the 1991 Camping World Bowl (then-Citrus Bowl) in Orlando, claiming a national championship with a 45-21 win over Nebraska

Virginia Tech vs. Kansas State

• • Hokies and Wildcats have met just twice previously with each team picking up a win
  • Have not met since 1968
  • Virginia Tech’s last appearance in the game came in 2012 in the bowl’s lone overtime game, a 13-10 victory over Rutgers
  • Kansas State would not only be making their first Camping World Bowl appearance, it would also be their first Florida bowl appearance

Florida State vs. Oklahoma State

• Florida State has won four of five previous meetings between the school
• Oklahoma State’s only win over the Seminoles was in the 1958 Bluegrass Bowl
• Their most recent matchup was in 2014, when the Cowboys opened their season against Jameis Winston and the reigning national champs at AT&T Stadium in Dallas; Florida State won, 37-31

Florida State vs. Texas

• The Seminoles and Longhorns have never squared off on the gridiron
• Florida State has made three prior appearances in the Camping World Bowl, their last visit coming in 2011, when they knocked off Notre Dame 18-14

NC State vs. West Virginia

• Rematch of our 2010 matchup, which saw a Russell Wilson-led NC State top West Virginia, 23-7
• All-time series tied 5-5; NC State has won past three meetings
• Mountaineers’ last victory in the series came in 1975 Peach Bowl
• West Virginia has made four appearances in the game, trailing only NC State and Miami