This will be the first-ever meeting of the Hokies and the Hogs. As these two teams battle it out for the 2016 Belk Bowl.
Photo Via Associated Press
What to know about Arkansas:
Arkansas’ well-balanced offense can be difficult to contain, especially it’s rushing game that’s headlined by one of the country’s top running backs in Rawleigh Williams III, who’s amassed 1,326 yards with 12 touchdowns in his sophomore campaign under coach Bret Bielema.
Photo Via WholeHogSports
Williams III had his best game of the season in a road 58-24 win over Mississippi State, during which he exploded for 205 yards rushing together with four scores. He followed up that game with 117 yards on 25 carries and a TD in the regular-season finale versus Missouri, only to see the Razorbacks’ defense allow 21 unanswered points, including three running touchdowns, and eventually lose the game itself, 28-24. Williams III is an underrated talent that has an opportunity to play on Sundays. Quarterback Austin Allen is also dangerous as well throwing for 3,152 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The Hogs have had issues in stopping the run this season, which is something that Bielema needs to solve before he and his troops take on Virginia Tech’s powerhouse offense.
Photo Via Roanoke Times
What to know about Virginia Tech:
Virginia Tech came up short in the ACC title game against Clemson, but a valiant effort from the Hokies made things interesting until the very end.
They managed to cut a 35-14 to just seven points after scoring on three straight possessions and even had a chance to force overtime. Their final drive, however, failed thanks to a game-sealing interception by Tigers cornerback Cordrea Tankersley.
The Hokies’ offense (447.4 total yards per game on the season) was there, but the defense just couldn’t stay solid enough against Clemson’s attack.
Expect a better effort from the defensive unit and also from QB Jerod Evans, who passed for 264 yards with one touchdown and ran for a pair of scores versus the Tigers. Evans has thrown for more than 3,300 yards along 27 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.Evans faces a very vulnerable Arkansas run defense.
Prediction:
Both of these teams are well balanced coming into this game. The key for the Hokies will be for their defense to really step up. Tech is 19th in the nation in total defense while Arkansas is 75th. For the Hogs to win they’ve need to slow down Evans forcing him into 3rd and long plays while containing him in the pocket.
VT Wins 30-20
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