SEC Football: Bowl Season Primer, Predictions, and Viewing Guide

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver ArDarius Stewart (13) holds up an SEC logo after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 1, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Florida Gators tight end DeAndre Goolsby (30) is tackled by Vanderbilt Commodores inside linebacker Ja /

Camping World Independence Bowl

NC State Wolfpack vs Vanderbilt Commodores

When: December 26th at 5 PM Eastern Time

Where: Shreveport, Louisiana

Venue: Independence Stadium

Watch: ESPN2 and ESPN3

This is one of the closer pre-New Year’s bowl games. ESPN FPI gives Vandebilt a 47.6 percent chance of winning. The betting markets have the Wolfpack as a six point favorite.

Both teams are 6-6 and have their flaws, but Vanderbilt looks to be the team headed in the right direction under third year coach Derek Mason. The team fell to 4-6 before rallying to win home games against Ole Miss and No. 17 Tennessee to clinch a bowl birth.

NC State came within a field goal of knocking of No. 2 Clemson. The kick was missed and that pretty much sums of the Wolfpack’s season. They played some good teams very close, but couldn’t make the play when it mattered, losing by seven to Florida State and by the same margin to Clemson. This Vandy team is scrappy and something tells me they’ll find a way to win.