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Gator Bowl game odds: Opening line for NC State vs. Kentucky

We’ve got an early look at the opening odds for the Gator Bowl game between the NC State Wolfpack and Kentucky Wildcats.

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops coaches from the sidelines during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kroger Field.  Arden Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Some people have a problem with regular bowl games continuing to go down after the College Football Playoff semifinal games, but I certainly enjoy it. We are thrown tons of bowls our way day and night, and even though they’re not the most important games, college football gives us a chance to wean off the season. Weaning season starts with the NC State Wolfpack taking on the Kentucky Wildcats in the Gator Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida. The game kicks off at noon ET and can be seen on ESPN and the WatchESPN app.

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

NC State vs. Kentucky

Point spread: Kentucky opened -3, currently -2.5
Point total: Opened at 52.5, currently 53.5

How they got here

NC State quietly had a pretty good season, finishing with an 8-3 overall record including 7-3 in ACC play for a tie for fourth place in the conference. The Wolfpack simply beat the teams it should’ve beaten and lost to the three best teams they played, and they are riding a four-game winning streak heading into this one.

As for Kentucky, the Wildcats went 4-6 in their 10-game SEC schedule for fourth place in the East division. Kentucky struggled to put up points against the best team on its schedule, finishing with 16 combined points in losses to Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

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