If you’re anything like me, the only time you think of Belk is when you’re looking for a new pair of gloves or need a new dress shirt to replace the one you ruined during your last trip to the Olive Garden. But there’s more to Belk than a quality pair of loose-fitting slacks. They also have a bowl; The Belk Bowl and this year Arkansas (7-5) and No. 22-ranked Virginia Tech (9-4) are playing in it at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 29. Kick off is 5:30 p.m.
The Game: Arkansas at No. 22 Virginia Tech (-7, 61.5 O/U)
Arkansas Razorbacks (7-5)
The Razorbacks took a hot 3-0 start, that included a 41-38 win over then No. 15-ranked TCU and shit it right down the toilet for the rest of the season. Though Arkansas finished with a winning record, they never once strung together back-to-back wins the rest of the way, beginning with a 45-24 loss to Texas A&M, Arkansas lost every other game down to the very end, a 28-24 loss to Mizzou to close out the season. Still, they’re in a bowl and, maybe Belk will toss them a discount on a belt or a nice new wallet.
Arkansas averaged 30.8 points per game on offense and gave up 30.8 points per game on defense. They also turned the ball over a lot. The Razorbacks scored 52 points this season off turnovers. Their opponents scored 108 points against them off turnovers. There’s plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Rawleigh Williams is an elite running back at 5-foot-10, 223 pounds. The sophomore could find himself in the Heisman conversation next season after rolling up 1,326 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry this year.
Austin Allen is a solid quarterback, completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 3,152 yards and 23 touchdowns with 12 picks. His favorite targets are Drew Morgan and Keon Hatcher. Morgan caught 61 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns this season. Hatcher was the big play threat, catching 38 passes for 638 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 16.8 yards per catch.
The Razorbacks’ best NFL offensive draft prospect is on the line. Offensive tackle Dan Skiller is 6-foot-10, 319 pounds and projects anywhere from the fourth round on.
Defensive end Deatrich Wise leads the defense and will probably get a solid NFL look, even though his production hasn’t been there since he’s been banged up most of the season. Wise, at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds, will want to make a big splash in the Belk Bowl and the senior bowls to drive up his draft stock.
Senior inside linebacker Brooks Ellis is the team’s leading tackler with 78 total tackes, one sack, one interception and three pass defenses. There’s talent on this defense, including linebacker Jeremiah Ledbetter, but they’re inconsistent and can’t seem to perform in the clutch.
Virginia Tech Hokies (9-4)
The Hokies completed a solid season and even got a couple of huge wins, the first against then No. 17-ranked North Carolina and later against Notre Dame. Like everyone else in the ACC they took a spanking from Clemson, but held up better than most, falling 42-35.
On offense, Virginia Tech averaged 35 points per game thanks to a one-man wrecking crew for a quarterback, Jerod Evans. Evans completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 3,303 yards and 7 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. He led the team in rushing too, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and gaining 759 yards and scoring 10 times.
Junior Isaiah Ford will find it hard to justify coming back to school after his 2016 campaign. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound wideout caught 73 passes for 1,038 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 14.2 yards per reception. He could go as high as the second round in the NFL draft. The only question about Ford’s draft status is if he’ll go before Virginia Tech tight end Bucky Hodges. Hodges is 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds and the elite passing weapon at the position NFL teams covet. He caught 43 passes for 640 yards and seven touchdowns of his own this season, averaging 14.9 yards per reception. And, yes, that’s more than Ford.
Outside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will probably stay in school another year even though as a redshirt sophomore he could come out in the NFL draft. The Hokies better hope they can keep him because he’s a force on the outside, with 99 tackles, 17 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Middle linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka leads the team with 106 tackles, five for a loss, two sacks, three picks, seven passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Trends and Notes
This is the third season of the Belk Bowl’s alliance with the SEC. Last year Mississippi State beat N.C. State 51-28.
The game has been played since 2002 and was originally called the Centennial Tire Bowl. Belk took over the sponsorship in 2011.
Last year’s Belk Bowl MVP was current Dallas Cowboys’ Pro Bowl quarterback Dak Prescott.
The Pick
If Arkansas keeps its every other game win schedule, they could go for the upset here, but I just don’t see it. The Hokies have way too much talent and I don’t see a player on the Razorback’s roster that can stop Evans. Virginia Tech 34, Arkansas 24
