Wolfpack now waits for bowl

RALEIGH -- With six wins, N.C. State is eligible to play in a bowl game for the first time in three seasons. Where the Wolfpack will end up likely won't be determined until after the ACC Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Frankly, State coach Tom O'Brien doesn't care where, just as long as the Wolfpack keeps playing.

"Any bowl is a good bowl," O'Brien said.

With Saturday's 38-28 win over Miami, the Wolfpack gave the ACC 10 bowl-eligible teams with nine conference tie-ins. At 4-4 in the conference, State is technically eligible for any of the ACC's bowl slots except the Orange Bowl or an at-large slot in a non-ACC affiliated bowl.

Charlotte, with the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 27, and Washington, with the inaugural EagleBank Bowl on Dec. 20, are prime targets for State's postseason.

"At the end of the season, I think they are playing as well as anybody in the conference," Meineke Car Care Bowl executive director Will Webb said of the surging Wolfpack, which has won four straight.

Charlotte, which picks sixth in the ACC bowl order, might have its choice of Clemson (7-5) or the Wolfpack, two teams with large fan bases and proven track record of selling bowl tickets.

"We'd be excited to have either one of them," Webb said, without committing to either team.

Webb said the likely Big East representative in Charlotte would be either West Virginia or Rutgers.

For O'Brien, the chance at extra practice is the No. 1 incentive for the postseason, although Navy, his alma mater, would be the opponent in the EagleBank Bowl.

"The more practice we can get with these young guys, the better off we're going to be in the long run," said O'Brien, who went 6-1 in bowl games at Boston College.

The Wolfpack's players were more concerned with the win over Miami, after losing to Maryland 37-0 last season when they were in a similar position.

"That's the one thing we had on our mind," State senior guard Meares Green said. "Just remember 37-0. We definitely couldn't have another performance like that."

BACK TO THE PLAYBOOK: N.C. State threw its first interception in six games but it wasn't by quarterback Russell Wilson. Miami safety Brandon Harris picked off an Andre Brown halfback pass attempt in the first quarter.

"For all those guys that want fancy, special plays, there's yours," O'Brien joked. "So don't ask me about trick plays anymore."

Wilson extended his streak to 226 attempts without an interception. The freshman quarterback threw one interception in eight ACC games, compared to 13 touchdowns.

ACC WOES: Miami has lost four straight to N.C. State and North Carolina. Since joining the ACC in 2004, the Hurricanes are 3-5 against the Tar Heels and Wolfpack. The Canes are 20-20 in their first five seasons in the ACC after going 33-2 in their final five seasons in the Big East.