The Hokies must rebuild after a trip to the Orange Bowl but Al Dannity doesn’t expect Virginia Tech to be down for long.
The schedule There are two ways to look at the Hokies’ schedule. On one hand it’s not unreasonable to think they could go 12-0. On the other it’s tough to see a perfect season being a sure thing for a trip to the BCS title game. Also, given how light the slate is, every defeat will sting just that little bit harder in the polls.
The Hokies should romp through a light non-conference schedule before hitting the meat of ACC play. Clemson and Miami will provide tests in Blacksburg. The Hokies avoid the top three teams from the ACC Atlantic last season and will instead expect their toughest tests to come from within the Coastal division. Georgia Tech should provide a significant challenge on the road while UNC, assuming there are no more sanctions, will be no pushovers.
The players Virginia Tech have to break in a new quarterback in Logan Thomas but they return 6 starters from last season’s team that went unbeaten in conference play. All-ACC selections David Wilson, Jaymes Brooks, and Blake DeChristopher will be crucial to improving a unit that was a solid #21 in scoring offense last season. Defensively the Hokies look in good health, with 7 starters back from 2010. Linebacker Bruce Taylor and cornerback Jayron Hosley, both All-ACC selections last season, will be the ones to watch in this unit. As always with Virginia Tech, special teams will be a special attraction. Wilson could prove a big weapon in the return game for the Hokies who may well need more points out of special teams this season.
The forecast At the start I said it was reasonable for College Football betting fans to think the Hokies could go 12-0. If you present me with every game individually, I would favor the Hokies to win. There are however enough banana skins on this schedule to have major concerns over their ability to maintain an unbeaten record throughout the year. Tyrod Taylor’s arm and legs got Virginia Tech out of trouble on more than one occasion during his career. With Taylor gone, there will be more games where the Hokies wonder where an answer will come from. I like the Hokies to win the Coastal division but most likely with a 6-2 record. I also have no faith in them winning the title game as Florida State look loaded despite also having to break in a new signal caller. I like Virginia Tech to stand at 10-3 entering bowl season.