Week 8 Bowl Projections: Could NC State make a record sixth appearance?
The 29th Camping World Bowl is still more than two months away, but it’s never too early to start predicting which ACC and Big 12 teams might be headed to Orlando.
Here’s a round-up of projections from around the college football media world after Week 8:
Mitch Sherman (ESPN): NC State vs. Iowa State
Kyle Bonagura (ESPN): NC State vs. Texas Tech
Eric Single (Sports Illustrated): Miami vs. West Virginia
Jason Kirk (SBNation): NC State vs. West Virginia
Jerry Palm (CBS Sports): NC State vs. Iowa State
Bill Bender (Sporting News): NC State vs. Iowa State
Brant Parsons (Orlando Sentinel): Virginia Tech vs. Texas Tech
Brent McMurphy (Stadium): NC State vs. Texas Tech
CollegeFootballNews.com: Miami vs. West Virginia
Brad Crawford (247 Sports): NC State vs. Texas Tech
Erick Smith (USA Today): NC State vs. Texas Tech
Kerry Miller (Bleacher Report): Miami vs. West Virginia
NC State vs. Texas Tech
• The Wolfpack and Red Raiders have met on the gridiron five times previously; NC State leads the series 4-1.
• This would be the Wolfpack’s sixth overall appearance in the Camping World Bowl; NC State is currently tied with Miami for the overall lead with five.
• In NC State’s appearance in 2003, quarterback Philip Rivers set the Camping World Bowl records for touchdown passes (five), passing yards (475) and pass completions (37); the Wolfpack defeated Kansas 56-26.
NC State vs. Iowa State
• The only previous matchup between these programs came in the 1977 Peach Bowl, a 24-14 victory for NC State.
• This would be the Cyclones’ first-ever appearance in a bowl game in the Sunshine State.
• Both the Wolfpack and the Cyclones rank in the top-20 in rushing defense at No. 9 (104.7 yards per game) and No. 16 (110.3 yards per game), respectively.
Miami vs. West Virginia
• This would be a rematch of the 2016 Camping World Bowl, then known as the Russell Athletic Bowl, which saw Miami beat West Virginia 31-14.
• Miami leads this all-time series between the programs 17-3 and currently holds a seven-game win streak. The schools were both part of the Big East conference from 1991-2004.
• The Hurricanes (3-2 overall) are tied with Florida State and NC State for the most Camping World Bowl victories, while West Virginia (0-4 overall) holds the record for the most losses.
NC State vs. West Virginia
• The most recent matchup between these programs came in the 2010 Camping World Bowl, then known as the Champs Sports Bowl; NC State won 23-7.
• Three of the 10 overall contests between the Wolfpack and the Mountaineers have been in bowl games (1972 Peach Bowl; 1975 Peach Bowl; 2010 Camping World Bowl).
• The Wolfpack and Mountaineers were scheduled to play earlier this season, but the game was canceled due to Hurricane Florence.
• In the 2010 matchup, NC State quarterback and game MVP Russell Wilson completed 28 of 45 passes, good for the fourth most pass completions and third most pass attempts in Camping World Bowl history.
Virginia Tech vs. Texas Tech
• There are no previous matchups between these programs.
• Virginia Tech holds a 1-1 Camping World Bowl record; the Hokies were victorious in 2012, a 13-10 overtime victory against Rutgers, but fell to Oklahoma State in last year’s contest 30-21.
• The Hokies’ OT win in 2012 is the only overtime game in the history of the bowl.
• Texas Tech’s current head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, led the Red Raiders to victory in their only Camping World Bowl appearance in 2002; Kingsbury connected on 32-of-43 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns and was named MVP in a 55-15 win over Clemson.
Click here to check out weekly projections from earlier this season.