St. Petersburg, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl is the nightcap on the day after Christmas, as the NC State Wolfpack tangle with the Knights of UCF at Tropicana Field. NC State went 7-5 during the regular season, which included a 3-5 record in the ACC, giving the team a fifth-place finish in the Atlantic Division. A four-game losing streak from Sept. 27-Oct. 18 had the Wolfpack in a precarious position as far as bowl consideration was concerned. But coach Dave Doerens club responded to win three of its last four games, including the final two over Wake Forest (42-13) and North Carolina (35-7). The Wolfpack have appeared in 27 bowl games in their history, going 14-12-1, They missed out on last years postseason, snapping a three-year run. This is the 10th time NCSU has been invited to a bowl since 2000, and it is the teams 10th bowl game all-time in the state of Florida. Speaking of the Sunshine State, UCF had long taken a backseat to bigger brothers, Florida State, Florida and Miami with regard to notoriety in the state, but things have been on the upswing for the Knights recently. In fact, since 2012, UCF has won 31 games, which is tied for the seventh-most in the FBS. Coach George OLearys squad went 9-3 this season, and finished with a 7-1 ledger in the American Athletic Conference, which tied both Cincinnati and UCF for the top spot. Since the formation of the AAC prior to last season, the Knights are an astounding 15-1 against league foes. UCFs first bowl appearance was in 2005, and it lost its first three postseason ventures before finally getting into the win column with a 10-6 triumph over Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl. Last season, the Knights reached a BCS bowl for the first time in history, as they outlasted Baylor in a wild Fiesta Bowl, 52-42. This is UCFs third trip to Tropicana Field in Tampa for a bowl game, with the last time being in 2012 against Ball State, a game in which the Knights prevailed in a 38-17 final. This game, which came in to existence in 2008, was originally called the St. Petersburg Bowl before changing to the Beef O Bradys Bowl. It switched back to the original moniker last season, and East Carolina beat Ohio University in that tussle, 37-20. This bout marks the third meeting between NC State and UCF on the football field, with the series knotted at 1-1. The first meeting took place in 2007, with the Knights winning, 25-23. The Wolfpack got even three years last with a 28-21 triumph. NC State was certainly productive on offense during the regular season, putting up just shy of 30 ppg behind a balanced attack that generated 206 ypg on the ground and 196 ypg via the pass. The team converted 46 percent of its third-down opportunities, and featured three guys who rushed for at least 495 yards, and four who had a minimum of 319 receiving yards. Shadrach Thornton led the backs with 811 yards and nine TDs, while Bo Hines was the top down-field threat with 42 receptions for 537 yards, but only one score. Matt Dayes and David Grinnage caught five TD passes each from QB Jacoby Brissett, who completed roughly 60 percent of his throws for 2,344 yards, 22 TDs and only five INTs. From a defensive standpoint, the Wolfpack allowed the opposition to put up 27 ppg, with 175.6 ypg coming on the ground and another 197.5 ypg through the air. Foes actually converted their third-down chances at an even 50 percent, and the NC State defense came up with only 19 turnovers. Linebacker Jerod Fernandez stood his ground to the tune of a team-high 76 tackles, and he added two picks for good measure. Safety Josh Jones intercepted three passes, while DE Art Norman led the club with 6.5 sacks. Fellow bookend Mike Rose was credited with 14 of the Wolfpacks 85 TFL. Doeren, who is putting the wraps on his second season in Raleigh, spoke with pride after his team accepted the bid to play in this game. We are both excited and thankful for the opportunity to play in the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl, he said. This is a great reward for our young team that has continued to improve over the course of the season, especially for the 12 current players from Florida who will be able to be home for the holidays. UCF had similar success with regard to putting points on the board this season, doing so for 28.2 ppg. The Knights did it a bit differently however, utilizing the talents of first-time starter Justin Holman under center. Taking over for former star Blake Bortles, Holman hit 59 percent of his passes for 2,661 yards, 20 TDs and 13 INTs. Rannell Hall led the team with 42 receptions, but he did not catch a TD pass and his 422 yards were less than half that of Breshad Perriman who caught one fewer ball but logged 906 yards and a team-high nine TDs. JJ Worton tallied 36 grabs for 514 yards and five scores, while Josh Reese added 33 catches for 477 yards and three TDs. As for the UCF rushing attack, which generated only 3.2 ypc, William Stanback was high man with 659 yards and 10 TDs. The UCF defense stood tall against nearly all comers this season, yielding a mere 17.9 ppg behind typical outputs of 97.4 ypg rushing and 185.4 ypg passing -- all three ranking the team in the top-11 of the 125 FBS teams charted by the NCAA. The defense allowed the enemy to move the chains only 37 percent of the time on third-down conversion attempts, while logging 33 sacks and 27 turnovers. Defensive back Jacoby Glenn picked off seven passes (tied for third-most in the country), while LB Terrance Plummer led the unit with 92 tackles. Defensive linemen Thomas Niles and Jaryl Mamea each had 6.5 sacks. After a 9-3 season we are very happy to go to the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl, OLeary said after accepting the bid. Obviously a bowl game is a great reward for the players, the program and the fanbase. We are very anxious to get to St. Petersburg and enjoy the bowl and its festivities. It will be a great experience for our players and fans. Gabriel Mercado Jersey . The former world No. 1 Djokovic, who is the top seed here despite being ranked No. 2, snuck past 35-year-old Czech showman Radek Stepanek in four high- quality sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), on Centre Court. Djokovic appeared relieved when he converted on his first match point by swatting a cross-court forehand winner that just caught the line to end an affair that featured only two service breaks. Cristian Pavon Jersey . - Skiing far more aggressively than in her season debut a day earlier, Lindsey Vonn was in provisional 10th place after the first 45 skiers in a World Cup downhill on Saturday. http://www.argentinasoccerauthentic.com/Lionel-Messi-Copa-America-Jersey/ . Authorities in Medina, Minn., released the details one day after Cunningham was jailed for another alleged incident with the woman he had been living with for the previous eight months. Cunningham had already been charged with felony domestic assault for allegedly choking the woman last week. Angel Di Maria Argentina Jersey . General Manager Sam Presti said the three-time All-Star had knee swelling that would not subside, and the procedure was intended to solve the problem. He said doctors determined that a loose stitch was to blame for the swelling, that Westbrooks lateral meniscus has healed properly and the procedure was successful. Javier Mascherano Jersey . - Chelseas 1-0 win at the Etihad, spoiling Manchester Citys perfect home record continues to be the talking point of the week.BEIJING -- Four-time world champion and six-time national champion Randy Ferbey was inducted into the World Curling Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Joining him in this years class were Switzerlands Patrick Huerlimann and Norways Eigil Ramsfjell. The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. "We are delighted to announce that Randy Ferbey, Patrick Huerlimann and Eigil Ramsfjell are being inducted into the World Curling Hall of Fame," said World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness. "All of these athletes have been ambassadors of our game, both on and off the ice. "Their dedication to our sport has inspired generations of curlers the world over and this honour recognizes their achievements." Ferbey won world titles in 1989, 2002, 2003, 2005 and was a silver medallist in 1988. He won national titles in each of those years and in 2001. Ferbey, 54, will be honoured at next years world championship in Halifax. "This came out of nowhere for me -- Im blown away to be honest," said Ferbey. "Im really appreciative to the Canadian Curling Association for their support, as well as to the World Curling Federation. I never played the game to earn accolades like this. "I always considered it a team game and I really want to share this with all the great teammates I had over the years. I could not have done it without them." Huerlimann won Olympic gold at the 1998 Nagano Games. He won world silver in 1989 and bronze in 1996 and 1999. He also guided Switzerland to a silver medal at the 2003 world playdowns. Huerlimann was a WCF executive board member for seven years and served as vice-president from 2010 through 2012. "This great news came out of the blue," he said. "I am delighted to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and very thankful to the World Curling Federation. For the past 40 years, curling has been a major part of my life on and off the ice. "Curling means so much to me and I am truly honoured with this nomination and to be part of the great ones of ouur much loved game.dddddddddddd." Ramsfjell, from Norway, played in 15 world championships and won gold in 1979, 1984 and 1988. He took silver in 1978 and 1980 and won bronze on four occasions (1983, 1987, 1989 and 1991). Ramsfjell won the gold medal when curling was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Calgary Olympics and earned bronze at the Nagano Games 10 years later. "My curling career has given me many highlights and I have been grateful for every one of those experiences," he said. "However, this recognition is truly outstanding. I am deeply honoured to be joining some of the greats of previous generations and must thank the Norwegian Curling Association for nominating me and the World Curling Federation for inducting me into the Hall of Fame." Ferbey won his first two national titles as a third for Pat Ryans team. His next four Brier wins came as skip of the "Ferbey Four" rink, which included Dave Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer and Marcel Rocque. Ferbey, who threw third rocks for that team, shares the record for most Brier wins as a skip (four) with Ernie Richardson and Kevin Martin. "Randys achievements on the ice over the years speak for themselves," said CCA chief executive officer Greg Stremlaw. "Equally important, Randy was always accessible to our great curling fans, and made a lot of friends for the sport with his outgoing nature. "The Canadian Curling Association is thrilled to see him recognized with induction into the World Curling Hall of Fame." Last year, Canadas Ron Northcott and Don Duguid were the inductees. Prior to 2012, the WCF awarded the World Curling Freytag Award. It was named after the late Elmer Freytag of the U.S. Curling Association, who was a founding member of the International Curling Federation (now the WCF). Previous Freytag honourees from Canada include Ray Kingsmith (2011), Sandra Schmirler (2009), Shirley Morash (2001), Richardson (2000), Colin Campbell (1990), Bob Picken (1987), Don McLeod (1985), Mabel Deware (1983), Doug Maxwell (1981) and Ken Watson (1978). ' ' '