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RUTGERS (7-5) VS. N.C. STATE (6-6)

3 p.m. today, Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.

TV: ESPN Radio: WSJS-600, WKXR-1260 Weather: Sunny with a high of 60 degrees.

THE STORY LINE

Two rolling teams collide in a decidedly neutral site. Rutgers has won six straight and the Wolfpack is on a four-game streak, and both of them needed every victory to qualify for postseason play. The Scarlet Knights averaged 46 points a game over the final five contests and State regrouped after injured players returned to the lineup.

THREE TO WATCH

RUTGERS

PK San San Te. The redshirt freshman is from Hickory, but his status as the only North Carolina player on the Knights roster isn't the only relevant fact. He's 9-of-13 on field goals with a long of 50.

WR Kenny Britt: His average of 113.8 receiving yards per game is good for second nationally in 2008, and he's tied for the Big East record for career games of 100 or more (13). "You've got to watch where 88 is all times and don't give up big plays," Wolfpack defensive back Jeremy Gray said.

SS Zaire Kitchen: In addition to having one of the best names in the game, Kitchen has overcome three ACL surgeries in his career.

N.C. STATE

QB Russell Wilson: You know the deal by now: The redshirt freshman's interception-avoidance streak is fabulous.

S Clem Johnson: The Pack's best at his position, Johnson has battled various injuries over the year but is expected to play today. He'll be vital in coverage against the Knights' Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood.

LB Nate Irving: Four interceptions and nine tackles for loss in nine games don't fully tell what Irving means to the Pack. His timing is astounding; the big plays seem to come at times that change the game.

BY THE NUMBERS

RUTGERS Att. Yds. Avg. TD

Young 136 550 4.0 5

Brooks 88 480 5.5 6

TOTAL 390 1,546 4.0 20

NCSU Att. Yds. Avg. TD

A.Brown 164 728 4.4 6

Eugene 87 432 5.0 2

TOTAL 415 1,506 3.6 13

RUTGERS Comp.-Att. Yds. TD Int.

Teel 221-359 3,099 23 12

NCSU Comp.-Att. Yds. TD Int.

Wilson 139-252 1,769 16 1

THREE TRENDS

1. The Scarlet Knights have converted 54 percent of their third-down situations in their ongoing six-game winning streak. QB Mike Teel has completed 68 percent of his passes in that time frame.

2. The Wolfpack averaged 80 rushing yards over the regular season's first six games and 171 in the final six.

3. Rutgers is playing in a bowl game for the fourth straight year. The Knights, who played Princeton in college football's first documented game on Nov. 6, 1869, made one postseason appearance before 2005.

ANALYSIS

Knights win if: They hit two or more pass plays of 40 yards and those completions lead to points. A triumvirate of talented receivers and an accurate QB make defense of the big play critical for State.

Wolfpack wins if: It wins the turnover department and turns one of the takeaways into immediate points; and if it continues its recent trend of running the ball well and keeping it away from Teel and the Rutgers offense.

Outcome: State wins a close one 24-21 with the help of a fourth-quarter turnover.

-- ROB DANIELS

RUTGERS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD

Britt 81 1,252 15.5 6

T.Brown 27 565 20.9 6

Underwood 36 443 12.3 4

TOTAL 228 3,196 14.0 24

NCSU Rec. Yds. Avg. TD

Spencer 29 626 21.6 4

Williams 19 306 16.1 4

A.Brown 28 305 10.9 2

TOTAL 181 2,410 13.3 18

RUTGERS (7-5)

Sept. 1 Fresno State L, 24-7

Sept. 11 North Carolina L, 44-12

Sept. 20 at Navy L, 23-21

Sept. 27 Morgan State W, 38-0

Oct. 4 at West Virginia L, 24-17

Oct. 11 at Cincinnati L, 13-10

Oct. 18 at Connecticut W, 12-10

Oct. 25 at Pittsburgh W, 54-34

Nov. 8 Syracuse W, 35-17

Nov. 15 South Florida W, 49-16

Nov. 22 Army W, 30-3

Dec. 4 Louisville W, 63-14

Today vs. N.C. State-a 3 p.m.

a-Papajohns.com Bowl, Birmingham, Ala.

N.C. STATE (6-6)

Aug. 28 at South Carolina L, 34-0

Sept. 6 William & Mary W, 34-24

Sept. 13 at Clemson L, 27-9

Sept. 20 East Carolina W, 30-24 (OT)

Sept. 27 South Florida L, 41-10

Oct. 4 Boston College L, 38-31

Oct. 16 Florida State L, 26-17

Oct. 25 at Maryland L, 27-24

Nov. 8 at Duke W, 27-17

Nov. 15 Wake Forest W, 21-17

Nov. 22 at North Carolina W, 41-10

Nov. 29 Miami W, 38-28

Today vs. Rutgers-a 3 p.m.

a-Papajohns.com Bowl, Birmingham, Ala.