2021 Holiday Bowl Preview: North Carolina State vs. UCLA

The North Carolina State Wolfpack make the long cross-country trip to San Diego for their first Holiday Bowl appearance. This is also the first Holiday Bowl game played in Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres. It should be a fun and festive atmosphere when the Pack take on UCLA and Chip Kelly.

North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. UCLA Bruins
Date: Tuesday, December 28th, 8:00 PM ET

Location: Petco Park, San Diego, CA

CFB Odds: N.C. State -1.5

North Carolina State Wolfpack

Dave Doeren has a chance to do something he has yet to accomplish in his ninth season as head coach of the North Carolina State Wolfpack: winning 10 games in a season. The last chance he had to do this resulted in a loss in the Gator Bowl against Texas A&M back in 2018. This year’s Wolfpack team is led by Devin Leary at quarterback. Leary just broke Phillip Rivers’ single-season touchdown record against rival North Carolina when he threw for his 35th touchdown. This is NC State’s first appearance in the Holiday Bowl. These two schools haven’t met since 1960 and this matchup is sure to provide fireworks from both sidelines. It will have compelling storylines leading up to kickoff.

North Carolina State’s defense has often bailed out the offense. State’s defense rose up in a big way to beat Clemson earlier this season. Whenever the offense hit a lull, the defense was there and ready to pick up the slack. UCLA, though, is a great-offense, bad-defense team. Leary and the rest of the Pack’s offense have to be on their game in this one. No shortcuts.    

UCLA Bruins

The UCLA Bruins have been struggling to take that next step under Chip Kelly. The UCLA coach hasn’t won 10 games in a college football season since 2012. That’s a long time for a coach who, at Oregon, was once considered one of the best in college football. Even with a win over the Wolfpack, the Bruins would still fall short of 10 wins. With Lincoln Riley taking over at rival USC, the microscope on Kelly is about to zoom in a lot closer at UCLA. This bowl game means a lot for him and the program. If the Bruins lose, it will mean that Kelly has gone all four years at UCLA without a bowl win. The stakes are higher now that other Pac-12 teams such as Utah have improved, and now that other schools have made big coaching hires. Chip is simply going to have to find his old form. He will need to rely in this game on quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to get it done against the Wolfpack. DTR, as he is widely known, has thrown for 2,409 yards, 21 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also ran for 611 yards and another nine rushing touchdowns. If DTR has a great day, N.C. State is definitely in trouble.

Outlook

UCLA has never figured out its defense under Chip Kelly. North Carolina State should be able to post a big number and do enough to win in San Diego.

Wolfpack vs. Bruins Prediction:

Wolfpack 38, Bruins 30