Belk Bowl 2017: Wake Forest vs. Texas A&M: TV Schedule, Time and Odds
The Belk Bowl features two programs trending in different directions.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are on the upswing in Dave Clawson's fourth year as head coach, as they've reached a bowl game in consecutive seasons for the second time in program history.
The Texas A&M Aggies have been stuck in neutral since the end of the Johnny Manziel era, and change is ahead, with Jimbo Fisher replacing Kevin Sumlin as head coach.
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Wake is in search of its second straight postseason victory, which would give the program its first eight-win campaign since 2008.
A Texas A&M win would continue the mediocrity in College Station, Texas, as it would hand the Aggies their fourth straight 8-5 record, while a defeat would give them their first six-loss season since the end of the Mike Sherman era in 2011.
Date: Friday, December 29
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
Odds: Wake Forest (-3); over/under: 66.5
How Wake Forest Will Win
If you're just being introduced to Wake Forest football, the first player worth watching is quarterback John Wolford, who threw for 2,792 yards and 25 touchdowns and added 615 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
If Wake Forest is on offense, there's a good chance the ball will be in the hands of Wolford, and stopping him will be no easy task for the Texas A&M defense.
The Demon Deacons have fallen in love with long plays throughout the regular season, with Wolford completing a pass of over 40 yards in five of his last six games. Seven Wake Forest receivers have a reception of 35 or more yards. The longest catch for four players in that group was a touchdown.
If the Aggies somehow find a way to limit Wolford's production, the Demon Deacons will counter with leading rusher Matt Colburn, who is looking for a way to redeem himself after totaling 80 yards in his last two regular-season contests against fellow ACC bowl teams NC State and Duke.
Wake Forest also has a few playmakers on defense in the form of safeties Cameron Glenn and Jessie Bates. Glenn is the team's leading tackler and has a pair of interceptions, while Bates has put together an impressive stat line of 71 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one interception and a forced fumble.
Glenn and Bates dabble in almost every part of the defensive game plan, so don't be surprised to see one or both crashing the pocket on blitzes or swarming to the ball in the secondary.
It wouldn't be shocking to see the Demon Deacons get out to a big lead through Wolford and then maintain it thanks to the performance of the defense, but for that to happen, everything will have to go right for them.
How Texas A&M Will Win
Texas A&M has been one of the most confusing Power Five programs in recent years, with this season possibly being the most maddening.
The Aggies fell victim to a Josh Rosen comeback in a Week 1 loss to UCLA, and they never found a rhythm once they dove into SEC play.
Texas A&M only won consecutive games once since the start of October, which has led many to tag them with the "inconsistent" label.
While most parts of the Texas A&M roster have produced frustrating results, Christian Kirk always seems to pop up to make at least one big play per game.
The junior wide receiver is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the sport, and he can impact a game through special teams as well.
Quarterback Nick Starkel will be tasked with getting the ball into the hands of Kirk as often as possible. The freshman signal-caller put up strong numbers throughout November, including back-to-back 200-plus-yard passing performances against Ole Miss and LSU to close out the regular season.
As long as Kirk is able to navigate the treacherous Wake Forest secondary, Starkel should be able to hit the wideout for what the Aggies hope will be game-changing plays.
When it comes to stopping the output of Wolford and the Wake Forest offense, Texas A&M will rely on linebacker Tyrel Dodson to set the tone and force the Demon Deacons into a few third-and-long situations.
Dodson and fellow linebacker Otaro Alaka could close up all the room Wolford, Colburn and others try to find early in the contest as the Demon Deacons look to get into a rhythm.
Also keep an eye on defensive back Armani Watts, who made 10.5 tackles for loss and picked off four passes. If Dodson and Alaka put enough pressure on Wolford, it could force him into an errant throw that Watts could easily take out of the air to reverse the field-position battle.
Prediction
There's potential for the Belk Bowl to be one of the most entertaining contests of bowl season, but that's only if Texas A&M decides to show up, which has been a concern in certain games.
Both teams have talented defenses, but how Wake Forest contains Kirk could be the determining factor.
Texas A&M 28, Wake Forest 27
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from ESPN.com and Sports Reference.
Odds obtained from OddsShark.com.
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