Texas A&M Football: 5 bold predictions for 2018 Gator Bowl vs. NC State

1. What is the impact of players choosing to sit out the bowl game?

Now, let’s get one thing straight before I start this final section. I am in no way making a statement of for or against sitting out a bowl game to focus on your NFL future when said game isn’t going to mean all that much in the grand scheme of things. You don’t see kids sitting out the national title game, but these smaller bowls it has become common place.

Below, you will hear A&M’s Tyrel Dodson’s thought process on why his team doesn’t have this issue if you will. Dodson is a junior with a possible pro football future, but he has no interest in sitting out. Neither do his senior counterparts.

However, that is not the case for NC State. They will be without leading receiver Kelvin Harmon (1,186 yards, seven TDs). For a team that relies so much on the passing attack, not being at full-strength within the receiving corps could be a big deal for this team heading into the Gator Bowl. They will also be without defender Germaine Pratt. He is second on the team in tackles with 72 on the season.

Like I said, I am not making an argument for or against skipping a bowl game to focus on a pro future. However, not being at full strength could come back to bite the Wolfpack in this one. We will certainly have to wait and see on that front.