Triangle Sports Roundup: UNC, N.C. State, Duke to bowl with Knights and Devils

Atlantic Coast Conference, theACC.com
Atlantic Coast Conference, theACC.com

RALEIGH, N.C. – First the North Carolina Tar Heels and the N.C. State Wolfpack, and then the Duke Blue Devils will kick off in season-ending bowl games on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

For those watching and who appreciate theme-based storylines, it will be battles against knights and amongst devils, more or less.

Friday’s slate for Triangle-area Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football fans starts in the afternoon with the action from the Quick Lane Bowl taking place in the domed confines of Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. where the Tar Heels take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

With just enough time for a food and bathroom break, the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl kicks off on Friday night in Florida as the Wolfpack takes on another set of knights – those from Central Florida at another dome in Tropicana Field.

After having some time to recover, until the early afternoon on Saturday, the Blue Devils will make their third consecutive bowl appearance when they kick off against the 15th-ranked Sun Devils of Arizona State at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas.

The matchups look good when comparing records and performance, and all three games should provide some entertaining play.

For local fans watching from all three tips in central North Carolina, all may have a reason to celebrate the end of the football season by Saturday night.

Quick Lane Bowl

North Carolina Tar Heels (6-6, 4-4) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-5, 3-5)

Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.

Fri. Dec. 26 – 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl

N.C. State Wolfpack (7-5, 3-5) vs. Central Florida Knights (9-3, 7-1)

Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Fri. Dec. 26 – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Duke Blue Devils (9-3, 5-3) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (9-3, 6-3)

Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas

Sat. Dec. 27 – 2:00 p.m. (CBS)