Duke-Mayo Bowl Preview: Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest

The college football postseason wraps up on Friday night in Charlotte, where Mississippi State will face off against Wake Forest in the Duke-Mayo Bowl.

Wake Forest ended its regular season with an 8-4 record, showing strong performances under coach Jake Dickert. On the other hand, Mississippi State, which finished with a 5-7 record, earned this bowl spot due to its academic progress rate, reflecting some developmental strides under coach Jeff Levy.

In terms of predictions, Kalsi’s market suggests Mississippi State has a 57% chance of winning this matchup.

Expert Opinions on Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State

This game is a significant opportunity for Wake Forest, as they haven’t achieved nine wins since 2021, and it would mark a milestone for Dickert in his first year. On the Mississippi State side, freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor showed promise during the Egg Bowl, hinting at his dual-threat capability, which hasn’t fully appeared in his overall stats.

The matchup will feature two mobile quarterbacks. Robbie Ashford, with over 500 rushing yards, represents a challenge for the Bulldog defense. It’s interesting how one standout performance can completely alter perceptions about a player.