Today
Belk Bowl in Charlotte
No. 22 Virginia Tech (9-4) vs. Arkansas (7-5), 5:30 p.m. ESPN
The Hokies, who have had a solid first season under coach Justin Fuente, are looking for their first 10-win season since 2011 when they face the Razorbacks of the SEC. Tech wasn't consistent all year, with a loss to four-win Syracuse, a home defeat to by two TDs to Georgia Tech, and a shaky performance against Notre Dame (but one that ended with a rally and win), but they won when they needed to, most notably crushing North Carolina on the road 34-3, a win that put them in the driver's seat the rest of the year for the ACC Coastal title. And they played admirably in a 42-35 loss in the ACC championship to Clemson. The arrow is definitely pointing up for Tech, which will return QB Jerod Evans next season and wideout Isaiah Ford and should surely be the favorite in the Coastal. Evans threw for a Tech-record 27 TDs this year and rushed for a team-leading 759 yards. The Razorbacks won seven games in the SEC West, usually a notable accomplishment, but the division was down, as was the whole SEC, which had no teams other than undefeated Alabama with fewer than four losses. Arkansas lost to Alabama 49-30, but put up a pretty good effort, with Austin Allen -- who tied for second in the SEC with 23 TD passes -- throwing for 400 yards and three TDs, though he did have three picks as well. The Hogs downed No. 11 Florida, 31-10, in probably their best performance. But they alternated wins and losses their final 10 games, and suffered blowout losses to Texas A&M (45-24), Auburn (56-3), and LSU (38-10). And in its finale, Arkansas fell to four-win Missouri, 28-24. In Arkansas, I see a team that was never quite able to find itself this year. Both teams are in the bottom half of FBS in turnover margin, so that could factor in, but Tech should win if it takes care of the ball better than Arkansas.
Virginia Tech 38, Arkansas 24
Belk Bowl in Charlotte
No. 22 Virginia Tech (9-4) vs. Arkansas (7-5), 5:30 p.m. ESPN
The Hokies, who have had a solid first season under coach Justin Fuente, are looking for their first 10-win season since 2011 when they face the Razorbacks of the SEC. Tech wasn't consistent all year, with a loss to four-win Syracuse, a home defeat to by two TDs to Georgia Tech, and a shaky performance against Notre Dame (but one that ended with a rally and win), but they won when they needed to, most notably crushing North Carolina on the road 34-3, a win that put them in the driver's seat the rest of the year for the ACC Coastal title. And they played admirably in a 42-35 loss in the ACC championship to Clemson. The arrow is definitely pointing up for Tech, which will return QB Jerod Evans next season and wideout Isaiah Ford and should surely be the favorite in the Coastal. Evans threw for a Tech-record 27 TDs this year and rushed for a team-leading 759 yards. The Razorbacks won seven games in the SEC West, usually a notable accomplishment, but the division was down, as was the whole SEC, which had no teams other than undefeated Alabama with fewer than four losses. Arkansas lost to Alabama 49-30, but put up a pretty good effort, with Austin Allen -- who tied for second in the SEC with 23 TD passes -- throwing for 400 yards and three TDs, though he did have three picks as well. The Hogs downed No. 11 Florida, 31-10, in probably their best performance. But they alternated wins and losses their final 10 games, and suffered blowout losses to Texas A&M (45-24), Auburn (56-3), and LSU (38-10). And in its finale, Arkansas fell to four-win Missouri, 28-24. In Arkansas, I see a team that was never quite able to find itself this year. Both teams are in the bottom half of FBS in turnover margin, so that could factor in, but Tech should win if it takes care of the ball better than Arkansas.
Virginia Tech 38, Arkansas 24
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