Ranking the 10 best non-New Year鈥檚 Six bowl matchups
5. Pop-Tarts Bowl: No. 18 NC State vs. No. 25 Kansas State
Originally branded as the Blockbuster Bowl, this game has been around for over three decades but will be in its first year being sponsored by Pop-Tarts. It should be an exciting contest between two teams that were overlooked for much of the year but finished the regular season in the top 25: NC State and Kansas State. This game will also be the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between the two programs.
The Wolfpack went 9-3 during the regular season with their three losses all coming to tough opponents including Notre Dame, Louisville and Duke. A top-25 total defense is NC State鈥檚 greatest strength and will be tasked with stopping a top-25 total offense of Kansas State that helped the Wildcats go 8-4 this year, with each of their losses coming in one-score games. Unfortunately, transfers, most notably Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, will change the feel of this contest a bit, but a physical matchup should still be in store on Dec. 28 in Orlando.
