It’s only fitting that the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Texas A&M Aggies close out college football’s calendar year Monday night at the Gator Bowl.
Both teams are capable of putting up offensive fireworks, with the teams combining to average more than 70 points per game during the season. But don’t sleep on the defences here, with both the Wolfpack and Aggies boasting elite run-defence units entering their Dec. 31 party in Jacksonville.
Gator Bowl College Football Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
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Opening 3 Dec 3:06pm | NCST | -4.5 -110 | O +58.5 -110 |
Closing 31 Dec 7:27pm | NCST | -7.5 +100 | O +57 -110 |
The Aggies are one-touchdown favourites in this one after posting five wins in the always-tough SEC while reeling off three consecutive victories to close out the season. And Texas A&M has been a terrific cover option, having gone 5-1 ATS in its previous six games when favoured by seven or more points. And while N.C. State has been a great cover option in bowl games (7-2-1 ATS in its last 10), it has just one cover in its past seven vs. SEC opponents.
This one carries a total of 58.5, one of the highest of the remaining bowl schedule – but that shouldn’t deter over bettors who have made a tidy profit off N.C. State. The Wolfpack are 7-0 O/U in their last seven December games and have gone above the total in each of their previous six bowl contests. Texas A&M has also been a sensational over option, going 6-1 O/U in its last seven non-conference games and 5-1 O/U in its past six vs. the ACC.
NC State Wolfpack
If the Wolfpack pull off the upset, it will likely be on the strength of their third-down play. N.C. State comes in with one of the best third-down offences in the country, having made good on 50.9 percent of its opportunities (sixth). And that dominance isn’t limited to the offensive side of the ball, either: The Wolfpack were just as sensational on third-down defence, holding opponents to a 32.3-percent conversion rate that ranks 19th in Division I.
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M was a middle-of-the-pack team in third-down success rate, and could find things even tougher on Monday. The Aggies surrendered a whopping 35 sacks during the season – ranking outside the top 100 nationally in pass protection – and will have their hands full with an N.C. State defence that stands as one of 22 teams to record at least 35 sacks. The Wolfpack also averaged seven tackles for loss per game.
Injuries
Kelvin Harmon (WR)
Tyler Jones (T)
Freddie Phillips Jr. (DB)
Germaine Pratt (LB)
Nick McCloud (CB)
Justin Witt (T)
Reggie Gallaspy II (RB)
Stephen Louis (WR)
Ricky Person Jr. (RB)
Donovan Wilson (DB)
Otaro Alaka (LB)
Tyrel Dodson (LB)
Myles Jones (DB)
Erik McCoy (OL)
Camron Buckley (WR)
Jared Hocker (OL)
Kendrick Rogers (WR)
Keaton Sutherland (OL)
Jhamon Ausbon (WR)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
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Kelvin Harmon (WR) | Out Mon | Personal - 03 / 12 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Harmon will sit out the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Texas A&M to focus on preparing for the upcoming NFL draft. |
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Tyler Jones (T) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 26 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Jones has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's matchup versus East Carolina due to his involvement in a post-game altercation. |
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Freddie Phillips Jr. (DB) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 26 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Phillips Jr. has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against East Carolina for his role in a post-game altercation. |
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Germaine Pratt (LB) | Ques Sat | Knee - 25 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Pratt is nursing a knee injury and it is uncertain if he will line up against East Carolina on Saturday. |
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Nick McCloud (CB) | Ques Thurs | Undisclosed - 29 / 10 / 18 | 3-3 | 4-2 | + - |
McCloud missed the last game dealing with an unspecified issue and has uncertain status for Thursday against Wake Forest. |
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Justin Witt (T) | Ques Sat | Illness - 29 / 10 / 18 | 3-3 | 4-2 | + - |
Witt has an unclear issue and likewise status for Saturday against Florida State. |
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Reggie Gallaspy II (RB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 28 / 10 / 18 | 3-3 | 4-2 | + - |
Gallaspy Jr. has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against FSU. |
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Stephen Louis (WR) | out for season | Ankle - 28 / 10 / 18 | 3-3 | 4-2 | + - |
Louis has suffered a high-ankle injury that will keep him out the remainder of the season. |
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Ricky Person Jr. (RB) | Doub Sat | Undisclosed - 28 / 10 / 18 | 3-3 | 4-2 | + - |
Person Jr. is battling an injury to an unlisted location and unlikely to be available for Saturday's contest against FSU. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donovan Wilson (DB) | Out Mon | Hernia - 28 / 12 / 18 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Wilson will not be available for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against NC State as he is sidelined with a sports hernia. |
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Otaro Alaka (LB) | Ques Sat | Concussion - 20 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Alaka is experiencing concussion-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will participate in Saturday's contest against LSU. |
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Tyrel Dodson (LB) | Prob Sat | Foot - 20 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Dodson has a foot injury but is expected to suit up for Saturday's game against LSU. |
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Myles Jones (DB) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 14 / 11 / 18 | 2-1 | 2-1 | + - |
Jones has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against UAB. It is unknown if he will participate in the second half. |
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Erik McCoy (OL) | Prob Sat | Leg - 06 / 11 / 18 | 2-2 | 3-1 | + - |
McCoy has a leg injury and it is uncertain if it will keep him out of Saturday's lineup against Ole Miss. |
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Camron Buckley (WR) | Ques Sat | Head - 04 / 11 / 18 | 2-2 | 3-1 | + - |
Buckley left the last game due to a head injury and it is unknown if he will play against Ole Miss on Saturday. |
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Jared Hocker (OL) | Out indefinitely | Leg - 31 / 10 / 18 | 2-3 | 3-2 | + - |
Hocker has been sidelined with a leg injury and it is unknown when he will return to action. |
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Kendrick Rogers (WR) | Prob Sat | Foot - 22 / 10 / 18 | 3-3 | 3-3 | + - |
Rogers is expected to suit up against Mississippi State on Saturday despite a foot injury. |
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Keaton Sutherland (OL) | Prob Sat | Ankle - 11 / 10 / 18 | 4-3 | 3-4 | + - |
Sutherland missed the last game due to an ankle injury but it is not expected to affect his status for Saturday's contest against Mississippi State. |
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Jhamon Ausbon (WR) | Prob Sat | Foot - 29 / 09 / 18 | - | - | + - |
Ausbon had right foot surgery but is expected to take the field Saturday versus Ole Miss. |
Wolfpack vs. Aggies Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 3 Dec 3:06pm NCST -4.5 -110 O +58.5 -110 Closing 31 Dec 7:27pm NCST -7.5 +100 O +57 -110 -
Injuries
Kelvin Harmon (WR)
Out Mon Personal - 03 / 12 / 18Tyler Jones (T)
Ques Sat Suspension - 26 / 11 / 18Freddie Phillips Jr. (DB)
Ques Sat Suspension - 26 / 11 / 18Germaine Pratt (LB)
Ques Sat Knee - 25 / 11 / 18Nick McCloud (CB)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 29 / 10 / 18Justin Witt (T)
Ques Sat Illness - 29 / 10 / 18Reggie Gallaspy II (RB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 28 / 10 / 18Stephen Louis (WR)
out for season Ankle - 28 / 10 / 18Ricky Person Jr. (RB)
Doub Sat Undisclosed - 28 / 10 / 18Donovan Wilson (DB)
Out Mon Hernia - 28 / 12 / 18Otaro Alaka (LB)
Ques Sat Concussion - 20 / 11 / 18Tyrel Dodson (LB)
Prob Sat Foot - 20 / 11 / 18Myles Jones (DB)
Ques Sat Suspension - 14 / 11 / 18Erik McCoy (OL)
Prob Sat Leg - 06 / 11 / 18Camron Buckley (WR)
Ques Sat Head - 04 / 11 / 18Jared Hocker (OL)
Out indefinitely Leg - 31 / 10 / 18Kendrick Rogers (WR)
Prob Sat Foot - 22 / 10 / 18Keaton Sutherland (OL)
Prob Sat Ankle - 11 / 10 / 18Jhamon Ausbon (WR)
Prob Sat Foot - 29 / 09 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Kelvin Harmon (WR) Out Mon Personal - 03 / 12 / 18 1-0 1-0 + - Harmon will sit out the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Texas A&M to focus on preparing for the upcoming NFL draft.
Tyler Jones (T) Ques Sat Suspension - 26 / 11 / 18 1-1 2-0 + - Jones has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's matchup versus East Carolina due to his involvement in a post-game altercation.
Freddie Phillips Jr. (DB) Ques Sat Suspension - 26 / 11 / 18 1-1 2-0 + - Phillips Jr. has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against East Carolina for his role in a post-game altercation.
Germaine Pratt (LB) Ques Sat Knee - 25 / 11 / 18 1-1 2-0 + - Pratt is nursing a knee injury and it is uncertain if he will line up against East Carolina on Saturday.
Nick McCloud (CB) Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 29 / 10 / 18 3-3 4-2 + - McCloud missed the last game dealing with an unspecified issue and has uncertain status for Thursday against Wake Forest.
Justin Witt (T) Ques Sat Illness - 29 / 10 / 18 3-3 4-2 + - Witt has an unclear issue and likewise status for Saturday against Florida State.
Reggie Gallaspy II (RB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 28 / 10 / 18 3-3 4-2 + - Gallaspy Jr. has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against FSU.
Stephen Louis (WR) out for season Ankle - 28 / 10 / 18 3-3 4-2 + - Louis has suffered a high-ankle injury that will keep him out the remainder of the season.
Ricky Person Jr. (RB) Doub Sat Undisclosed - 28 / 10 / 18 3-3 4-2 + - Person Jr. is battling an injury to an unlisted location and unlikely to be available for Saturday's contest against FSU.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Donovan Wilson (DB) Out Mon Hernia - 28 / 12 / 18 0-1 1-0 + - Wilson will not be available for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against NC State as he is sidelined with a sports hernia.
Otaro Alaka (LB) Ques Sat Concussion - 20 / 11 / 18 1-1 2-0 + - Alaka is experiencing concussion-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will participate in Saturday's contest against LSU.
Tyrel Dodson (LB) Prob Sat Foot - 20 / 11 / 18 1-1 2-0 + - Dodson has a foot injury but is expected to suit up for Saturday's game against LSU.
Myles Jones (DB) Ques Sat Suspension - 14 / 11 / 18 2-1 2-1 + - Jones has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against UAB. It is unknown if he will participate in the second half.
Erik McCoy (OL) Prob Sat Leg - 06 / 11 / 18 2-2 3-1 + - McCoy has a leg injury and it is uncertain if it will keep him out of Saturday's lineup against Ole Miss.
Camron Buckley (WR) Ques Sat Head - 04 / 11 / 18 2-2 3-1 + - Buckley left the last game due to a head injury and it is unknown if he will play against Ole Miss on Saturday.
Jared Hocker (OL) Out indefinitely Leg - 31 / 10 / 18 2-3 3-2 + - Hocker has been sidelined with a leg injury and it is unknown when he will return to action.
Kendrick Rogers (WR) Prob Sat Foot - 22 / 10 / 18 3-3 3-3 + - Rogers is expected to suit up against Mississippi State on Saturday despite a foot injury.
Keaton Sutherland (OL) Prob Sat Ankle - 11 / 10 / 18 4-3 3-4 + - Sutherland missed the last game due to an ankle injury but it is not expected to affect his status for Saturday's contest against Mississippi State.
Jhamon Ausbon (WR) Prob Sat Foot - 29 / 09 / 18 - - + - Ausbon had right foot surgery but is expected to take the field Saturday versus Ole Miss.