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NC State is in an awkward position after losing to UNC-CH on Saturday, primarily because it is the lone bowl eligible team from the ACC with a losing conference record. The defeat at the Heels' hands ruled out any realistic possibility of a Belk Bowl berth, and most likely relegated State to the lower-rung bowl options.
That could mean a trip to the Military Bowl in Annapolis, which is the near-consensus among the prognosticators at this point. There are still a few things in need of sorting, beginning with the ACC title game and ending with Florida State's fate, which remains unclear at this point. The Russell Athletic Bowl would love to have FSU, and it has first choice after the playoffs and New Years Six picks, but there is at least a half-decent chance the Seminoles land in one of those New Years Six games.
Same could be said for the Heels at this point, and if the ACC gets a second team into the fold there (assuming a Clemson ACC title win), then everybody gets bumped, and that might--might--improve State's prospects a bit. But it wouldn't be a significant bump, in all likelihood. How's a road game at Navy grab you?
Source | Projected Bowl | Projected Opponent |
Bill Bender (Sporting News) | Military (Annapolis, MD; Dec. 28) | Navy |
Jason Kirk (SBN) | Military (Annapolis, MD; Dec. 28) | Navy |
Mark Schlabach (ESPN) | Independence (Shreveport, LA; Dec. 26) | Kentucky |
Jerry Palm (CBS) | Military (Annapolis, MD; Dec. 28) | Navy |
Brett McMurphy (ESPN) | Military (Annapolis, MD; Dec. 28) | Navy |