Belk Bowl Preview: Battle of the Senior Bowl Quarterbacks

Sep 26, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) throws a pass against the Auburn Tigers during the third quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Bulldogs beat the Tigers 17-9. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

The 14th annual Belk Bowl kicks off on Wednesday as Mississippi State and North Carolina State look to end their seasons on a high note. While the most highly anticipated game between the SEC and ACC is a potential Alabama/Clemson showdown in the National Championship Game, the Belk Bowl is very intriguing for both NFL and college football fans. Why? It’s all about the quarterbacks.

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Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott and Jacoby Brissett of North Carolina State will both attend this year’s Senior Bowl on January 30th, exactly one month after the Belk Bowl. With so many bowl games and players leaving early for the NFL Draft, it’s extremely rare for two senior quarterbacks of this caliber to meet in a bowl game. In fact, the last time two Senior Bowl quarterbacks faced off in a bowl game was New Year’s Day 2010 when Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators defeated a Cincinnati team led by Tony Pike in the Sugar Bowl. A matchup like this doesn’t come around very often, so NFL scouts will be sure to get an up-close look at the two signal callers.

The career paths of the two quarterbacks appear to be going in opposite directions. While Prescott has been the more successful and productive quarterback in college, Brissett is the better prospect. The Wolfpack quarterback has greater arm talent and his mobility and creativity outside the pocket will allow his future team to open up the playbook. Prescott on the other hand is as, if not more mobile than Brissett, but he lacks the arm strength needed to be a starter at the next level. While the NFL is in their future, the two still have one more game left in their college careers.

Prediction

Prescott and the Bulldogs will be looking for revenge against the ACC after losing to Georgia Tech in last season’s Orange Bowl. On the opposite sideline, Brissett hasn’t thrown a pass against an SEC defense since 2011 when he played for Florida. Brissett may have the brighter future, but Prescott is the better college quarterback and has the better team around him. Despite this game taking place in North Carolina, Mississippi State comes away with the win.

Mississippi State 38-27