College Football 2016 Belk Bowl Expert Picks: Virginia Tech Vs Arkansas

Posted by Eric Williams on Wednesday,December 28, 2016 9:37, EDT in

The 18th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies will look to cap off their season in style when they take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2016 Belk Bowl on Thursday, December 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Belk Bowl will air live on ESPN and features the explosive Hokies as 6-point favorites. Now, let’s find out if Virginia Tech can get the win and ATS cover.

College Football 2016 Belk Bowl Expert Picks: Hokies Vs Razorbacks

2016 Belk Bowl

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (7-5) at Virginia Tech Hokies (9-4)
When: Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 at 5:30 PM ET
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
NCAAF Odds: Virginia Tech -6 / Total: 62

 

 

Arkansas Razorbacks

The Razorbacks (7-5 SU, 5-7 ATS) have lost two of their final three games and come into the 2016 Belk Bowl off a humbling 28-24 loss to Missouri in their regular season finale as quarterback Austin Allen passed for 348 yards and one touchdown but tossed two costly interceptions. The Razorbacks have put up a slid 30.8 points per game to rank a respectable 55th in scoring nationally as Allen has passed for 3,152 yards with 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Running back Rawleigh Williams III has rushed for a team-high 1,326 yards and 12 scores while running back Drew Morgan has hauled in 61 passes for a team-high 664 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Arkansas Razorbacks has given up a generous 30.7 points per game to rank an uninspiring 84th in points allowed.

Virginia Tech Hokies

The 18th-ranked Hokies (9-4 SU, 7-6 ATS) had their two-game winning streak snapped in their heartbreaking 42-35 loss to No. 2 Clemson in their ACC Championship game loss as quarterback Jerod Evans passed for 264 yards and one score but tossed two costly interceptions in the loss.

The Hokies average an impressive 35.0 points per game as Evans has passed for a stellar 3,309 yards with 27 touchdowns while also leading the Hokies in rushing with 759 yards and 10 scores. Wide receiver Isaiah Ford has hauled in a whopping 73 passes for 1,038 yards and seven touchdowns.

Defensively, Virginia Tech has limited the opposition to 22.6 points per game to rank an encouraging 30th in points allowed nationally.

 

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Expert ATS Pick & Final Score Prediction

While a slim, 53 percent of public bettors like Arkansas to cover the spread, but I don’t see it happening after watching the Razorbacks get pounded by Auburn 56-3 and LSU, 38-10 over their final five games, not to mention their season-ending loss against a really mediocre Missouri team. Virginia Tech has gone 4-1 ATS in their last five games following an SU loss and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in the month of December.

While Arkansas has gone 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following an SU loss, the Razorbacks are also just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 neutral-site games and 3-6 ATS in their last nine games overall. Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans is extremely difficult to contain with his dual-threat ability and I believe he will be the difference-maker in this contest as the Hokies win and narrowly cover the spread!

Pick: Virginia Tech 35 Arkansas 27