The Belk Bowl isn't typically thought well of when it comes to the upper echelon of December bowl games, but with conference tie-ins to the ACC and SEC (or a prominent at-large team from one of the big five conferences), it should probably be a bigger game on the national scale. This year, it will feature Louisville and Georgia, according to ESPN.
Considering that at least 55 points have been scored in each of the last four games, we should be in for plenty of offense. In 2012, the Duke Blue Devils received one of the bowl bids. The following season, Duke reached the ACC Championship Game and gave themselves a narrow chance at making a BCS bowl game. Will this year's game propel a program forward like it did for the Blue Devils? Here is everything you need to know for game day:
Date and time, ET: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, 6:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium, 73,300
Last year's score: North Carolina 39, Cincinnati 17
Last year's attendance: 45,211
Last year's TV rating: 3,1
Last year's payout for each school: $1.7 million
Team with the most all-time appearances: North Carolina, 4
Team with the most all-time wins: Boston College, North Carolina State and Virginia are all 2-0.
Georgia (9-3, 6-2 SEC)
It’s been a wild ride for the Bulldogs. Georgia went 3-1 against currently ranked teams, but lost two games to teams with a combined 12-11 record. Along the way, star running back Todd Gurley was suspended for selling autographs to a dealer, and freshman Nick Chubb broke out as the future star in Athens. Georgia opened with a win in Clemson, defeated SEC East champ Missouri, 34-0, and pounded Auburn in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. But on the other side of the coin, the Dawgs fell to South Carolina, Florida and Georgia Tech.
With incredible talent in the backfield, it’s no surprise that the running game has been Georgia’s strength. Despite getting no more than 11 carries in his first five games, Chubb finished second in the SEC with 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns. With Gurley suffering a torn ACL and heading to the NFL, the future is here for Chubb and the Bulldogs.
Last bowl game: 2014 Gator Bowl vs. Nebraska, 24-19 loss
All-time bowl record: 27-18-3
Head coach's bowl record: Mark Richt, 8-5
Louisville Cardinals (9-3, 5-3 ACC)
The 2014 Cardinals were wildly different than their 2013 version except for one similarity: They won games. Head coach Charlie Strong left for Texas along with some of the staff, and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went on to the NFL. They did welcome back a familiar face in Bobby Petrino, who coached the team from 2003-06 and left the program in let’s say not-optimal circumstances.
Despite all the turnover, the Cardinals won nine games in 2014 and came ever-so-close to knocking off Florida State. They have stars on both sides of the ball in wide receiver DeVante Parker and safety Gerod Holliman, who leads the nation with a staggering 14 interceptions. Louisville should be a tough matchup for whoever they go against in their bowl game.
Last bowl game: 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl vs. Miami, 36-9 win
All-time bowl record: 9-8-1
Head coach’s bowl record: Bobby Petrino, 4-3