#NC State vs. Kentucky line, prediction: Wildcats will cover

The Gator Bowl might be one of the fishiest lines of the bowl season. North Carolina State finished the season with an 8-3 record and was ranked No. 23 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Why are the Wolfpack an underdog to 4-6 Kentucky?

While North Carolina State is 8-3, its most impressive win was a 15-14 victory over Liberty. The Wolfpack did not play Clemson or Notre Dame this season, the top two teams in the ACC. They lost to North Carolina, Miami, and Virginia Tech. The only ACC opponent North Carolina State beat that finished at least .500 in conference play was Pittsburgh back on Oct. 3 when QB Devin Leary threw for four touchdowns. Leary broke his leg against Duke and was replaced by Bailey Hockman.

Hockman has shown promise at times this season but in starts against North Carolina, Miami, and Liberty, Hockman completed just 59 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and three interceptions. In their three losses this season, the Wolfpack have allowed 276.3 rushing yards per game. Kentucky is a physical running team. The Wildcats rushed for 291 yards in their regular-season finale against South Carolina, led by Chris Rodriguez’s 139 yards at 9.9 yards per carry.

Coach Mark Stoops has led Kentucky to back-to-back bowl wins and the Wildcats are 3-0 ATS in their last three bowls.

The Play: Kentucky,-2.5.