Belk Bowl: #22 Virginia Tech vs. Arkansas Preview and Pick

[caption id="attachment_4578" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Belk Bowl Trophy [Credit: Harley Taylor][/caption]The Virginia Tech Hokies and Arkansas Razorbacks have made it to their final games of the 2016 season with both teams having gone through their final practices and hoping to finish out their seasons strong. As Justin Fuente said yesterday, these games are not meaningless to the players even if some in the media see them as so. The Hokies have the chance tomorrow to get back to establishing 10 wins as the standard in Blacksburg along with pushing to finish in the top 15 of the final AP Poll. Meanwhile, Arkansas will be looking to pull off the upset knowing that a win will give them some much-needed positive momentum in the offseason and possibly push the Razorbacks into the final AP top 25. Of course, both teams also have a bunch of pride to play for while also having the chance to get a win over another well-respected program and help their conference's reputation. On top of that, playing for a trophy may not be a big motivation but the chance to win that trophy still can give a little extra boost of motivation. Both teams have plenty to play so for the final time, here are our picks for the Hokies and Razorbacks at Bank of America Stadium.

Henry Skutt

The Hokies make their 24th straight bowl appearance against the Arkansas Razorbacks, and they will also look to win 3 straight bowl games for the first time in program history. Justin Fuente couldn't have asked for a much better 1st year as the head coach for the Hokies. Besides the occasional slip up (which was to be expected, if we're being completely honest), this season has gone above and beyond expectations with a Coastal Division crown, the blowout of Virginia, and taking playoff-bound Clemson down to the final seconds in the ACC Championship Game. Add in a win in a higher caliber bowl game on a national stage against a pretty good SEC team, and this Hokies team will be on the rise going into the 2017 campaign. I am expecting a close game but I am also expecting a Hokie win. The talent level on the offensive side of the ball for Virginia Tech is going to allow Fuente and his offense to do well with Evans in charge. Meanwhile on the defensive side of the ball, Bud Foster has a chance to draw up a game-plan against a more traditional offensive look from the Razorbacks -- something he hasn't been able to do much of this season, and we all know how skilled Foster is at drawing up defensive schemes.

Pick: #22 Virginia Tech 41, Arkansas 27

Dwight Lester

Hokie fans, it's that time of the year we all dread; he time of the year when college football is coming to an end. It is a sad time where there is only one more chance to root for our beloved Hokies. Friends, THAT final rooting chance is in this year's Belk Bowl. The Hokies are looking to cap Justin Fuentes first season with a win over SEC contender Arkansas. A win would give Virginia Tech 10 for the year, an extremely solid start to the new coaching regime. However, the Razorbacks are not going to just lay down and roll over for the boys from Blacksburg. This is going to be a fight, and the winner is going to be the team that controls the line of scrimmage. The Razorbacks are a team that likes to run the ball to set up their entire offense. They average 174 yards a game on the ground which isn't too shabby. The Hokies hang their hats on stopping the run and creating havoc in the backfield. However, the Hokies are going to be without a starter up front with Vinny Mihota already being ruled out. His young replacements will have to step up big as I look for Arkansas to run the ball heavily toward that side of the line. The Hokies offense has been a revelation this year. Not only can they be counted on to put points on the board, but they have done so with great ease sometimes. Look for the Hokies offense to have a field day against a defense that allows over 428 yards a game, and allows a whopping 30 points per game. Jerod Evans will have a big game running the ball and throwing it as well. The Hokies three-headed monster at receiver might be playing their last game together (boy I really hope not) and they will definitely put on a show. Don't be surprised if all three receivers have a score of some sort in this game. The fact is the Hokies have to much fire power on offense, and a defense that will rise to the occasion. Arkansas will in my opinion be lucky to still be in this game by the fourth quarter. The Hokies roll to a Belk Bowl win 52-27. LETS GO HOKIES!!!!

Pick: #22 Virginia Tech 52, Arkansas 27

Tim Thomas

The Virginia Tech Hokies are definitely the more talented and better team, but they face a physical Arkansas football team that will be pesky and make sure that this is a competitive game throughout. Bret Bielema has been in bigger bowl games before, but has proven adept at motivating his teams for smaller bowl games with the Razorbacks having two-straight bowl victories. However, the Hokies also enter having won back-to-back bowl games with this matchup providing two teams that don't see this game as meaningless. Defensively, the Hokies will face an Arkansas offense that plays physical football built on their two-headed rushing monster of Rawleigh Williams and Devwah Whaley who have both averaged 5.7 yards per carry. Arkansas also likes to use their rushing attack to set up their play action passing game and the Hokies' defensive backs will have to be discipline to not bite on the fakes and give Austin Allen some big play opportunities. However, Bud Foster is usually at his best against a more traditional offense like the one that the Razorbacks will have and don't be surprised to see Virginia Tech have a fair amount of success slowing down the Razorbacks. However, being down a starting DE will hurt some against a physical football team given how VT's depth behind Ken Ekanem and Trevon Hill isn't very good. Offensively, the Hokies will face an Arkansas defense that has only intercepted 9 passes all season but has some depth that will give Cam Phillips a more challenging matchup out of the slot. However, dealing with Virginia Tech's three-headed receiving monster is one even great defenses like Clemson's have had their issues with and Jerod Evans seems poised to have a strong game through the air. Expect some wild things and trick plays in this game with both coaches ready to pull some of their tricks out of their bag in this final game of their seasons. Be ready for some wild twists and turns, but the Hokies are the better team and it will show in the end as they get to 10 wins for the first time since 2011 with a big win over the Razorbacks.

Pick: #22 Virginia Tech 34, Arkansas 24

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