A bumpy start awaits the Hokies but Al Dannity likes Virginia Tech to make a serious push for the ACC Coastal title.
The schedule The Hokies couldn’t have asked for a tougher start to the season, facing a loaded Boise State team in Landover, Maryland. A non-conference test at home to East Carolina on September 18 will serve as a solid form of preparation for the ACC schedule.
With Miami and North Carolina already in these rankings, it’s not a shock to learn the Hokies have a difficult road ahead in 2010. Virginia Tech starts conference play with a trip to Boston College on September 25. November presents a brutal three game stretch with Georgia Tech coming to Blacksburg on November 4 before the Hokies travel to divisional rivals North Carolina and Miami. The regular season ends with the rivalry game against Virginia.
The players This team is loaded on offense. Virginia Tech returns the dynamic, albeit imperfect, Tyrod Taylor at quarterback with All-ACC running back Ryan Williams returning to the backfield. Wide receivers Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin are back along with tight end Andre Smith. In all, the Hokies have 8 returning offensive starters.
Defensively there are definitely questions about how the Hokies reload. Last season the Hokies had the #2 defense in the ACC and #12 nationally. With only 4 returning starters on defense it would be nothing short of a miracle for Frank Beamer’s team to repeat that performance. College Football betting fans should monitor how the new look defense develops over the season. The Hokies will have to break in a new punter and new kicker in 2010 but with Beamer on the sideline I expect Virginia Tech to do just fine on special teams.
The forecast It’s all about the ACC for Virginia Tech this year. An upset in the season opener would project the Hokies into the National Championship discussion but I can’t see them beating a Boise State that returns all but one starter from 2009.
Virginia Tech won’t stray far from voters’ thoughts however and I expect them to be back in the rankings entering that tough November stretch. The Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami games will decide where the Hokies finish in the ACC Coastal standings. I like the Hokies to win two out of three but to fall short of running the table. The Hokies will go 10-2 in 2010, most likely leaving the divisional title down to a tiebreaker. This will be a good year for Virginia Tech, how good it is may not be within its control.
