College Bowl Mania: 2018 Belk Bowl Odds And Prediction

CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 29: John Wolford #10 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons celebrates with the MVP trophy after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies 55-52 after the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

2018 Belk Bowl Odds And Prediction

Bowl season is finally upon us! We are right in the middle of this. After the Christmas break, we have at least three games per day through Saturday. Saturday also gets started with the less well known Belk Bowl.

More from College Football Odds

I finally lost a couple of picks over the week, but overall, I’m still doing pretty well.

For the rest of the bowls, you will get my picks against the spread and point wagers just like I did all season long. I had a solid regular season, but I can make it look a whole lot better with a strong bowl season!

Just in case you missed any:
Autonation Cure Bowl
Progressive New Mexico Bowl
Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
DXL Frisco Bowl
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Jared Birmingham Bowl
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Dollar General Bowl
So-Fi Hawaii Bowl
ServPro First Responder Bowl
Quick Lane Bowl
Cheez-It Bowl
Walk On’s Independence Bowl
NewEra Pinstripe Bowl
Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Camping World Bowl
Valero Alamo Bowl
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 9: Deebo Samuel #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks waits with teammate to take to the field prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

South Carolina(-5.5) vs. Virginia at Charlotte, NC(2):

South Carolina 7-5, 4-4(t-4th SEC East)

Wins: vs. Coastal Carolina(49-15), at Vanderbilt(37-14), vs. Missouri(37-35), vs. Tennessee(27-24), at Mississippi(48-44), vs. Chattanooga(49-9), vs. Akron(28-3)

Losses: vs. Georgia(17-41), at Kentucky(10-24), vs. Texas A&M(23-26), at Florida(31-35), at Clemson(35-56)

Record vs. bowl teams: 2-5

Deebo Samuel is one of the most dangerous receivers around. The problem for much of the season was getting him the ball. Jake Bentley did a lot of growing up through the season. In the Clemson game, he proved that he can sling it with the best of them.

The key to this is likely going to be how much Rico Dowdle can soften up this Virginia defense. If South Carolina has trouble running the ball like they did most of the season, they are going to have a lot of trouble with Virginia.

Virginia 7-5, 4-4(t-3rd ACC Coastal):

Wins: vs. Richmond(42-13), vs. Ohio(45-31), vs. Louisville(27-3), vs. Miami(FL)(16-13), at Duke(28-14), vs. North Carolina(31-21), vs. Liberty(45-24)

Losses: at Indiana(16-20), at North Carolina State(21-35), vs. Pittsburgh(13-23), at Georgia Tech(27-30), at Virginia Tech(31-34)

Record vs. bowl teams: 3-4

The Virginia offense is better than advertised, but the defense isn’t as good as touted either. The Hoos gave up at least 20 points in each of the last five games.

Is the offense just better because it has to be? Bryce Perkins is a solid quarterback and Olamide Zaccheaus can do a little of everything. This offense put up 103 points in the last three games, but still lost two of those and one of them was to Liberty.

Prediction:

Vegas thinks this game is going to be higher scoring, and I get it. Both offenses started to come around by the end of the season. This game just feels like it’s going to be ugly. I like the Virginia offense better, but that defense the last few games makes me nervous. Especially when you consider they are going to attempt to guard someone like Samuel.

I wouldn’t touch the over/under on this one just because I don’t trust it. I could see this being a defensive struggle or a 35-31 game. I still like Virginia to keep this within three either way, so give me the Hoos.

Pick: Virginia

dark. Next. ESPN Capital One Bowl Mania picks

Stay tuned for the rest of the bowl picks against the spread, and our DFS picks for the NBA, NFL, and even some NHL action! We have something for everyone!