NC State @ Vanderbilt preview

FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL STORYLINES

1. North Carolina State boasts one of the top passing offenses in the nation, ranking 20th nationally with 304 passing yards per game, while Vanderbilt ranks 10th in the nation against the pass (175.8).

2. With six straight wins, Vanderbilt is riding its longest winning streak since 1955 and trying to match the program's single-season record of nine victories set in 1904 and tied in 1915. The Commodores' last bowl victory was a 16-14 win against Boston College in the 2008 Music City Bowl.

3. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dana Bible will serve as N.C. State's acting coach. The Wolfpack hired Dave Doeren away from BCS-bound Northern Illinois, but Doeren will be a spectator on New Year's Eve.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Vanderbilt -6.5

ABOUT N.C. STATE (7-5, 4-4 ACC): The Wolfpack are one of only 12 schools from BCS automatic-qualifying conferences who have won bowl games each of the past two years. N.C. State's ability to extend that streak likely depends on which defense shows up - the one that allowed 33 or more points five times, including 62 against Clemson, or the one that shut down high-powered Florida State. Quarterback Mike Glennon (3,648 pass yards, 30 touchdowns, 14 interceptions) leads the offense, and while the run game hasn't consistently produced, freshman Shadrach Thornton rushed for 329 of his 655 yards in the final three games of the regular season.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (8-4, 5-3 SEC): The Commodores enjoyed their best regular-season in nearly three decades on the strength of a stout defense that ranked 17th in total yards allowed (326.4) and 15th in scoring (18.2). The offense is unremarkable but steady and balanced, with running back Zac Stacy (1,034 yards, nine touchdowns) leading the ground game and Jordan Rodgers (2,431 pass yards, 13 touchdowns, five interceptions) and Jordan Matthews (87 catches, 1,262 yards, seven touchdowns) providing a prolific passing connection.

PREDICTION: Vanderbilt 23, N.C. State 17