NC State vs. UCLA 12/28/21 - San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl Picks & Predictions

On Tuesday, December 28, the UCLA Bruins play the No. 18 ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego, California. UCLA ended its regular season 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the Pac-12. The Bruins won each of their last three including a 42-14 victory over California to end the regular season. UCLA scored an average of 36.7 points per game and allowed an average of 26.8 points per game.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson passed for 2,409 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. The leading rusher was Zach Carbonnet with 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns while the leading receiver was Kyle Phillips with 739 yards in 10 touchdown receptions. On defense, Qwuantrezz Knight was the leading tackler with 65 and Bo Calvert was the leader in quarterback sacks with 4.0.

North Carolina State ended the regular season 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the ACC finishing second to only Wake Forest in the Atlantic division. North Carolina State defeated North Carolina 34-30 and its final game of the regular season and won four of the last five. The Wolfpack scored an average of 33.1 points per game and allowed an average of only 19.7 points per game. 

Devin Leary passed for 3,433 yards with 35 touchdowns and five interceptions. The leading rusher was Zonovan Knight with 753 yards and three touchdowns while Ricky Pearson Jr rushed for 636 yards and five touchdowns. Emeka Emezie was the leading receiver with 802 yards and six touchdown receptions. On defense, Drake Thomas was the leading tackler with 99 and tied for the lead in quarterback sacks at 6.0 with Vi Jones.