The 2017 Belk Bowl features a clash between an improving ACC team and an SEC side fresh of hitting the reset button on its coaching staff.
The 2017 Belk Bowl features a clash between an improving ACC team and an SEC side fresh of hitting the reset button on its coaching staff. Wake Forest believes winning the Belk Bowl will propel the team as a dark horse to win the ACC in 2018 while Texas A&M is counting down the days until new coach Jimbo Fisher is manning the sidlelines.
Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm | WAKE | -3 -110 | O +64.5 -110 |
| Closing 29 Dec 5:47pm | WAKE | -3.5 -110 | O +62.5 -110 |
Texas A&M supporters should have known their season was doomed after their team blew a 27-point lead in the fourth quarter of Week 1 against UCLA. The Aggies went 7-5 straight up and 7-4-1 against the spread on the year with their best win coming on the road against Florida.
Wake Forest went 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in its four non-conference games but struggled in its ACC schedule. The Demon Deacons won seven of their 12 games outright and went 8-3-1 against the number. Wake’s best wins were against NC State and Louisville.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The Demon Deacons were just happy to be playing in a postseason game a year ago and now they’re excited to be playing in a mid-level bowl in practically their own backyard. Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte is only about an hour and a half away from Wake Forest’s campus in Winston-Salem.
Wake’s best player is All-ACC second team quarterback John Wolford. The senior was the driving force behind his team’s jump from 297.3 offense yards per game last season to 447.5 in 2017. He passed for 2792 yards and 25 touchdowns against just six interceptions and he was no slouch running the ball either. Wolford collected 615 yards and 10 TDs on the ground on 125 rushing attempts.
Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies put $75 million guaranteed to lure Fisher out of Florida State but they won’t be able to benefit from Jimbo’s talents as a coach and recruiter until next season. Texas A&M will be coached by interim HC Jeff Banks in this game and he has a decision to make as to who’ll start under centre for the Aggies.
Nick Starkel got the nod in Week 1 but sat out a large chuck of the season due to injury. He returned and started the final three games of the year but Banks won’t rule out true freshman Kellen Mond as a potential starter on Friday. Starkel is a more accurate passer while Mond is a dual-threat quarterback who is just as likely to make a play with his legs as he is with his arm.
Injuries
Duke Ejiofor (DL)
Chuck Wade Jr. (WR)
Isaiah Robinson (RB)
Jessie Bates III (DB)
Cade Carney (RB)
Greg Dortch (WR)
Arkeem Byrd (RB)
Phil Haynes (OL)
John Wolford (QB)
Traveon Redd (DB)
Derrick Tucker (DB)
Armani Watts (DB)
Jake Hubenak (QB)
Zaycoven Henderson (DL)
Antonio Howard (DB)
Charles Oliver (DB)
Donovan Wilson (DB)
Nick Harvey (DB)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Ejiofor (DL) | Ques Sat | Lower Body - 17 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 1-2 | + - |
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Ejiofor missed the last game with a lower-body ailment and his status for Saturday's contest against Duke is unknown. |
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| Chuck Wade Jr. (WR) | Prob Sat | Undisclosed - 06 / 11 / 17 | 3-1 | 2-2 | + - |
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Wade Jr. has an unspecified injury but will likely suit up against Syracuse on Saturday. |
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| Isaiah Robinson (RB) | Prob Sat | Undisclosed - 03 / 11 / 17 | 4-1 | 3-2 | + - |
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Robinson is expected to participate in Saturday's game against Notre Dame despite an undisclosed issue. |
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| Jessie Bates III (DB) | Prob Sat | Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17 | 4-1 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Bates III has missed the last two games for undisclosed reasons but is expected to play Saturday against NC State. |
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| Cade Carney (RB) | Prob Fri | Knee - 31 / 10 / 17 | 4-1 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Carney has missed the last four games with a knee injury but is expected to play in the Belk Bowl against Texas A&M. |
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| Greg Dortch (WR) | out for season | Abdominal - 29 / 10 / 17 | 4-1 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Dortch underwent season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal injury. |
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| Arkeem Byrd (RB) | Prob Sat | Head - 28 / 10 / 17 | 4-2 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Byrd missed the last two games with a head injury but will likely be active for Saturday's matchup against NC State. |
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| Phil Haynes (OL) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 22 / 10 / 17 | 4-2 | 4-2 | + - |
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Haynes has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against Louisville. |
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| John Wolford (QB) | Prob Sat | Shoulder - 11 / 10 / 17 | - | - | + - |
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Wolford is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to play Saturday against Georgia Tech. |
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| Traveon Redd (DB) | Out indefinitely | Elbow - 16 / 08 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
Redd has yet to play this season due to an elbow injury and there is currently no timetable for his debut. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Tucker (DB) | Ques Fri | Suspension - 29 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Tucker has been suspended for the first half of the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest due to a targeting violation. |
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| Armani Watts (DB) | Out Fri | Undisclosed - 28 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Watts is dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not play in the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest. |
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| Jake Hubenak (QB) | out for season | Shoulder - 15 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Hubenak will not be available for the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest after having surgery to fix a torn labrum in his shoulder. |
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| Zaycoven Henderson (DL) | Out Fri | Disciplinary - 10 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Henderson will not take part in the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest as he is suspended for an undetermined length of time due to an off-field incident. |
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| Antonio Howard (DB) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 07 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 3-1 | + - |
|
Howard is dealing with an ankle injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against New Mexico. |
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| Charles Oliver (DB) | Ques Sat | Shoulder - 07 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 3-1 | + - |
|
Oliver missed the last game with a shoulder injury and his availability for Saturday's contest against Mississippi is unknown. |
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| Donovan Wilson (DB) | Out indefinitely | Foot - 04 / 09 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
Wilson underwent surgery on his foot and it is unclear if he will return this season. |
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| Nick Harvey (DB) | out for season | Knee - 13 / 08 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
Harvey has a knee injury that is expected to keep him out of action for the entire 2017 season. |
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Demon Deacons vs. Aggies Prediction
-
DEMON DEACONS
44 -
AGGIES
38
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm WAKE -3 -110 O +64.5 -110 Closing 29 Dec 5:47pm WAKE -3.5 -110 O +62.5 -110 -
Injuries
Duke Ejiofor (DL)
Ques Sat Lower Body - 17 / 11 / 17Chuck Wade Jr. (WR)
Prob Sat Undisclosed - 06 / 11 / 17Isaiah Robinson (RB)
Prob Sat Undisclosed - 03 / 11 / 17Jessie Bates III (DB)
Prob Sat Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17Cade Carney (RB)
Prob Fri Knee - 31 / 10 / 17Greg Dortch (WR)
out for season Abdominal - 29 / 10 / 17Arkeem Byrd (RB)
Prob Sat Head - 28 / 10 / 17Phil Haynes (OL)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 22 / 10 / 17John Wolford (QB)
Prob Sat Shoulder - 11 / 10 / 17Traveon Redd (DB)
Out indefinitely Elbow - 16 / 08 / 17Derrick Tucker (DB)
Ques Fri Suspension - 29 / 12 / 17Armani Watts (DB)
Out Fri Undisclosed - 28 / 12 / 17Jake Hubenak (QB)
out for season Shoulder - 15 / 12 / 17Zaycoven Henderson (DL)
Out Fri Disciplinary - 10 / 12 / 17Antonio Howard (DB)
Ques Sat Ankle - 07 / 11 / 17Charles Oliver (DB)
Ques Sat Shoulder - 07 / 11 / 17Donovan Wilson (DB)
Out indefinitely Foot - 04 / 09 / 17Nick Harvey (DB)
out for season Knee - 13 / 08 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Duke Ejiofor (DL) Ques Sat Lower Body - 17 / 11 / 17 2-1 1-2 + - Ejiofor missed the last game with a lower-body ailment and his status for Saturday's contest against Duke is unknown.
Chuck Wade Jr. (WR) Prob Sat Undisclosed - 06 / 11 / 17 3-1 2-2 + - Wade Jr. has an unspecified injury but will likely suit up against Syracuse on Saturday.
Isaiah Robinson (RB) Prob Sat Undisclosed - 03 / 11 / 17 4-1 3-2 + - Robinson is expected to participate in Saturday's game against Notre Dame despite an undisclosed issue.
Jessie Bates III (DB) Prob Sat Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17 4-1 3-2 + - Bates III has missed the last two games for undisclosed reasons but is expected to play Saturday against NC State.
Cade Carney (RB) Prob Fri Knee - 31 / 10 / 17 4-1 3-2 + - Carney has missed the last four games with a knee injury but is expected to play in the Belk Bowl against Texas A&M.
Greg Dortch (WR) out for season Abdominal - 29 / 10 / 17 4-1 3-2 + - Dortch underwent season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal injury.
Arkeem Byrd (RB) Prob Sat Head - 28 / 10 / 17 4-2 4-2 + - Byrd missed the last two games with a head injury but will likely be active for Saturday's matchup against NC State.
Phil Haynes (OL) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 22 / 10 / 17 4-2 4-2 + - Haynes has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against Louisville.
John Wolford (QB) Prob Sat Shoulder - 11 / 10 / 17 - - + - Wolford is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to play Saturday against Georgia Tech.
Traveon Redd (DB) Out indefinitely Elbow - 16 / 08 / 17 - - + - Redd has yet to play this season due to an elbow injury and there is currently no timetable for his debut.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Derrick Tucker (DB) Ques Fri Suspension - 29 / 12 / 17 0-1 1-0 + - Tucker has been suspended for the first half of the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest due to a targeting violation.
Armani Watts (DB) Out Fri Undisclosed - 28 / 12 / 17 0-1 1-0 + - Watts is dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not play in the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest.
Jake Hubenak (QB) out for season Shoulder - 15 / 12 / 17 0-1 1-0 + - Hubenak will not be available for the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest after having surgery to fix a torn labrum in his shoulder.
Zaycoven Henderson (DL) Out Fri Disciplinary - 10 / 12 / 17 0-1 1-0 + - Henderson will not take part in the Belk Bowl against Wake Forest as he is suspended for an undetermined length of time due to an off-field incident.
Antonio Howard (DB) Ques Sat Ankle - 07 / 11 / 17 2-2 3-1 + - Howard is dealing with an ankle injury and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against New Mexico.
Charles Oliver (DB) Ques Sat Shoulder - 07 / 11 / 17 2-2 3-1 + - Oliver missed the last game with a shoulder injury and his availability for Saturday's contest against Mississippi is unknown.
Donovan Wilson (DB) Out indefinitely Foot - 04 / 09 / 17 - - + - Wilson underwent surgery on his foot and it is unclear if he will return this season.
Nick Harvey (DB) out for season Knee - 13 / 08 / 17 - - + - Harvey has a knee injury that is expected to keep him out of action for the entire 2017 season.