UCLA vs. NC State: Holiday Bowl betting odds, preview, and pick

The Holiday Bowl will feature an exciting matchup between a pair of high-scoring teams in N.C. State and UCLA.

N.C. State can sling it, and has a top-20 passing offense that averaged 33.1 points per game on the way to a 9-3 record. The Wolfpack lost only two ACC games by four total points.

UCLA, which will make its first bowl appearance since 2017 after finishing 8-4, led the Pac-12 in scoring at 36.5 points per game. Chip Kelly has his offense rolling in his fourth season.

Both teams fared well against run-oriented opponents, proving vulnerable at times against quality passing attacks.

Leary leads Wolfpack

Completing 32 of 44 passes for four touchdowns, Devin Leary was the difference, as N.C. State snapped an eight-game losing streak to Clemson in late September. The junior quarterback continued to thrive down the stretch, throwing 18 touchdowns as N.C. State won four of the final five games.

Leary recorded 35 touchdown passes and only five interceptions.

The Wolfpack utilize a pair of solid running backs, Ricky Person Jr. and Zonovan Knight, but they’ll rely upon a top-notch passing offense.

Defensively, N.C. State has the edge in the Holiday Bowl. The Wolfpack had a couple of letdowns late in the season, but they featured a top-20 scoring defense, allowing only 19.7 points per game.

The Wolfpack were also outstanding at getting off the field on third downs, ranking fifth nationally in opponent third-down conversion rate (29.3%).

Bruins stretch the field

UCLA finished strong, scoring nearly 50 points per game as it routed its final three opponents, and Kelly knows how to maximize his playmakers.

Zach Charbonnet was fantastic, leading the Bruins in rushing (1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns), and proved to be a valuable complement in the passing game (197 receiving yards). Brittain Brown (616 rushing yards) gives them a quality 1-2 punch out the backfield.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson isn’t the most efficient passer, but he can get the ball downfield to receivers Kyle Philips and Greg Dulcich, and the senior quarterback is a talented runner, as well.

UCLA will need to tighten things up in the secondary, ranking 111th in passing defense (260.2 yards allowed per game), but the Bruins remain a threat to outscore N.C. State.