Happy Thanksgiving - early picks!

Happy Thanksgiving all - I won't have internet access (or much of it) Thursday or Friday, so the picks come early this year. The ACC race comes down to two teams on Saturday. Who gets it?

GT at UGA

Sure, Georgia is at home, appears to be the better team, lots of playmakers on both sides. But, oh that triple option. Can anyone defend it?

GT 28 UGA 24

Miami (Fl) at NC State

Is there a hotter team in the last month then the Wolfpack. It's easy - if they beat Miami, they go bowling. Should be a no brainer.

NCSU 28 UM 21

South Carolina at Clemson

Clemson needs to win this game to be bowl eligible. It's the last home game for those seniors, and Clemson hates, I mean HATES South Carolina. My bet is they get it done.

Clemson 31 USC-E 24

UF at FSU

Hmm, this could be interesting. Florida has been ripping people to shreds of late, but FSU has the guns to stop them. Can FSU move on UFs D? Can FSU stop Tebow and company?

UF 31 FSU 29

Vanderbilt at Wake Forest

Both teams are already bowl eligible, but Wake would like to increase their bowl stock.

WFU 24 Vandy 21

ACC Championship Game qualifiers

Maryland at BC

It's easy. If BC wins, they win the Atlantic. If Maryland upset them on the road, FSU gets the nod. Sure, BC is without their starting QB, but their defense can easily win this game on their own. BC leads the country with 32 picks. Um, that's pretty good.

BC 24 MD 13

UVA at VT

It's easy. If VT takes care of business at home, they head to Tampa representing the Coastal. If UVA pulls the unlikely upset, the Jackets will take their place willingly. I think VT opens up the floodgates on offense and has (another) red letter day on defense.

VT 24 UVA 6

In honor of UVA week....

Just a little walk down memory lane to quite possibly the greatest comeback in Virginia Tech football history - 1995 at UVA.

Bill Roth's voice tells the story.

FINALLY the ACC is getting clearer

Well, it seems this whole season has been about a game of hot potato.

"No that's ok. I know we are favored and winning and expected to roll, but it's too hot. You take it."

Nearly every team in the conference that has faced prosperity has just as quickly surrendered it.

Virginia Tech
Virginia
Florida State
Boston College
Georgia Tech
Miami

And on and on.

Before yesterday, the vast tiebreaker scenarios for each division would make Einstein pause, but at long last, the divisions break down to a total of four teams that can get to Tampa next Saturday.

If Virginia Tech beats UVA in Lane Stadium Saturday, they win the Coastal.
If Virginia beats VT, Georgia Tech wins the Coastal.

If Boston College beats Maryland in Chestnut Hill next Saturday, they win the Atlantic.
If Maryland beats BC, FSU wins the Atlantic.

That's it. Just four teams now in a position to be conference champs.

FSU and BC are the two teams I don't want to face.

Heck, not sure if I'd want to face Duke again.

Bud Foster

Aaron McFarlane of the Roanoke Times wrote an article this morning that sums up everything I was feeling when I was watching the Duke game last night. There was one bright spot in the game last night, and that includes coaching. Bud Foster never stops and it seems more and more often he is "winning" games for VT. If Weaver and Beamer let him get away, we are in for some really troubled times.

Defense wins.

UVA/VT game time has been set

The Hokies and Cavs will kick off at noon on November 29th and will be televised by ESPN.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride continues...

Well, Hokie lovers - Thursday a week ago, we had just fallen by 2 points on the road to Miami and all seemed lost. All of the sudden, Virginia Tech was no longer in the proverbial driver's seat, and needed some help from it's ACC compatriots.

First, UNC had a date with Maryland last Saturday and the Terps proved to be "the guy who doesn't call you back." Next, Miami had to travel to a raucous crowd in Atlanta last night for their final home game of the year. Senior Night. White Out. You know the drill.

The Canes ended up getting run all over (nearly 500 yards, to be exact). So, this begs the question, how does that crazy, wacky division sort itself out? Last night, Chris Fowler on ESPN tried to make it sound way more complicated then it really is.

Consider this. IF Virginia Tech wins tomorrow against Duke AND beats Virginia in the season finale, they would be 5-3 in conference play.

As would Georgia Tech.
And North Carolina.
Even Miami gets in on the fun.

So, we are all 5-3. Where next? Check the head-to-head matchups first.

Carolina beat Miami who beat Virginia Tech who beat Georgia Tech who beat Miami who....ugh, my head hurts. Suffice it to say, the head to heads all end in a draw, since we beat each other up.

The REAL tiebreaker is in the division record (record against Coastal opponents)

VT (4-1) (lost to Miami)
Georgia Tech (2-3) (lost to VT, UVA and UNC)
Miami (3-2) (lost to GT and UNC)
UNC (3-2) (lost to UVA and VT)

We win out on division record and head to Tampa.

That's right boys and girls. If we beat Duke and UVA to finish the season, we will play in our third ACCCG in 4 years. Not bad for a struggling young team, eh.

GO HOKIES!!!!!

View from the Hive - the rants and ramblings of a Jacket Junkie...

...at least for this week.

That's right folks. This Thursday, wear yellow to work.

Learn the Georgia Tech fight song.

Read up on their football lore and history.

Because if Georgia Tech beats Miami on Thursday night, we are back in control of our destiny. No foolin.

With Maryland's timely win over North Carolina yesterday afternoon, Carolina and VT are now tied with 3 conference losses. Miami has two.

For now, they are at the top. But as anyone who has watched this crazy ACC knows, being at the top is the worst place to be.

Maryland was at the top a week ago. Lost in Blacksburg.
Wake Forest was at the top yesterday. Lost in Raleigh.
Florida State was at the top last night. Lost in Tallahassee.

Yikes.

If Miami loses on the road Thursday night (very possible, just ask all the Thursday night road teams to date), there will be a three-way tie at the top of the Coastal with UNC - VT - Miami sharing the lead.

If you get dizzy after hearing the below, take a minute and close your eyes.

To break the tie, they first go to head to head.

Virginia Tech beat North Carolina.
North Carolina beat Miami.
Miami beat Virginia Tech.

Hmmm. There goes that.

Next, they go to division record (record against Coastal opponents). This is where the Hokies get the edge.

VT (2-1)
Miami (2-2)
Carolina (1-2)

If Virginia Tech wins out (against Duke and UVA, both at home) and Miami loses Thursday night, we are in Tampa.

So get our your golds and yellows. Even let a bee sting you this week.

We are all Yellowjackets. GO GEORGIA TECH!!!!

Royal treatment

A nice article in Denver about one of our favorite Hokies.

Making his case for Rookie of the Year for sure.

Good stuff.

ACC Weekend Pickoff

Considering there is a Thursday night game tonight (who is playing in that again?) I figured I would make my picks this morning. The conference race is getting a little clearer, but there is still a logjam in both conferences. Some of that can be sorted out this weekend.

Off we go.

VT at Miami (Thurs night)

Virginia Tech has lost to Miami three times in the last ten years. That's pretty good. As well as beaten Miami the last two trips they have played down in Florida. That's not bad either. VT is coming off a big game and momentum should be with them. Conversely, Miami is coming off of a bye week. VT will look to continue their running success, but Sean will likely need to pass to move the ball. Both teams are very young, but Miami has the two freshman QBs. Think Bud Foster might have a field day tonight? Me too.

VT 23 Miami 14

Clemson at Duke

Since Clemson scheduled two FCS schools on its schedule, it now needs to win out JUST to become bowl eligible. The schedule? Duke, then at Virginia and finally at South Carolina. Ouch. At least they can get Part I this weekend.

Clemson 31 Duke 25

UNC at Maryland

One of the bigger games of the weekend, Maryland is coming off a disappointing road loss to VT and hosts the hottest team in the conference UNC. Maryland needs to win out to go to the ACCCG and don't think Maryland doesn't come out fired up. This one is a toss up in my head. I can see Maryland winning and I can see UNC being too good, but...

UNC 24 Maryland 21

BC at FSU

This is another biggie. BC can destroy several teams' hopes to get to the championship game, starting with the Noles. FSU is hitting their stride on offense and their defense is suffocating good offenses, much less bad ones like BC. Too much at home.

FSU 31 FSU 23

And now for an unscheduled rant...

I have yet to use this medium to vent out my frustrations about, well, anything yet - but that is all about to change.

We all know the ACC seems like a 10 team race, at least it feels that way. But watching any media coverage you want the past week, you would assume the UNC is already headed to Tampa. The fact that they are getting so much love from the media doesn't bother me nearly as much as how they are framing the Coastal picture. Any non-ACC follower would assume that all UNC has to do is beat Maryland, NC State and Duke and they can punch their ticket to Florida.

Not so.

Their two losses happen to be to two Coastal teams. UVA and Virginia Tech. They need BOTH of these teams to lose. One of those teams did lose, last week. UVA fell miserably on the road to Wake Forest.

Check.

Check this out talking media heads. If Virginia Tech beats Miami tonight, and cruises through Duke and UVA at home, where will UNC be in early December?

Watching the ACC Championship game from Chapel Hill.

Sorry guys, but Virginia Tech has won the ACC 2 of the 4 years it has been in it, and played for it yet a third year. Why not even mention VT as a possibility to win the division? Has UNC ever won the ACC? Has UNC ever challenged for the ACC? Why all the love?

Yes, they are 7-2 and look to be the best team in the conference right now. Blah, blah, blah.

They lost AT HOME to Virginia Tech.

Believe me, if VT loses tonight at Miami, I will be the first one to say that UNC deserves to go, should they win out.

IF.

Let's go Bowling V

Things just keep on changing. The latest wrinkle? Since Clemson played two teams from the FCS, they have to win out (last three games) just to get bowl eligible.

Congressional Bowl - Duke (ACC #9)
Meineke Car Care - Boston College (ACC #5)
Champs Sports - Georgia Tech (ACC #4)
Emerald Bowl - Wake Forest (ACC #7)
Humanitarian Bowl - Miami (FL) (ACC #8)
Music City Bowl - Maryland (ACC #6)
Chick-fil-A Bowl - North Carolina(ACC #2)
Gator Bowl - Florida State (ACC #3)
Orange Bowl - Virginia Tech (ACC #1)

Getting Defensive...

Much was made about the ACC being one of the weaker leagues in the BCS at the beginning of the season. When is a team going to break out, when are teams going to win out of conference games and when will we win a BCS game? Well, no team has really broken out, but there are so many good teams in conference and few bad ones.

Consider this. Two teams out of 12 have losing records. TWO. That's impressive.

That is bound to change though. Virginia is now 5-5 with games against Clemson and Virginia Tech remaining. Yes, Clemson comes to Charlottesville, but the Tigers need to win out to make a bowl. It is very possible that Virginia finishes 5-7 on the year.

We all know that FSU, Miami and VT always have stout defenses, but check this out.

There are FIVE teams from the ACC in the top 25 in total defense to date:

(5) FSU
(9) Boston College
(15) Miami (FL)
(16) Georgia Tech
(18) Virginia Tech

Talk about having a league identity.

How about Bud Foster losing eight of 11 starters to the NFL, having to start some new guys who have never played before and STILL being in the top 20 in the country in total defense?

Give this guy a raise and QUICK. He is going to be a head coach real soon.

Running away with it

We all know there are three keys to Virginia Tech football - the way Frank Beamer would ideally like every game to go.

(1) Ball control offense - a power running game.
(2) Opportunistic defense - a score or two wouldn't hurt.
(3) Control Time of Possession.

On Thursday night, we got all three. Aside from giving up yet another big play, the defense was stout and outstanding. We all know what Darren Evans did, running for a school record 253 yards on 32 carries. Oh, and by the way, he is a redshirt freshman. Yikes.

The most impressive part of the game was at the end of the fourth quarter. There was roughly 6 minutes left in the game, we were nursing a 10 point lead, and starting from our own 5 yard line. Virginia Tech knew what it was going to do, Virginia Tech fans knew what they were going to do, and more importantly, Maryland knew what they were going to do. 70 yards later with the game over, Tech ran the ball on every down, getting first down after first down on the ground. Maryland knew we were going to salt the game away running the ball and they still couldn't stop it. That is special.

Tech seems to have found its tailback and he looked good - real good - especially when he was absolutely crushing a Terp. It deserves a second view, no?

The best thing is that VT still controls its own destiny. Win the next three, and we are Tampa bound. Best yet, Wake or Maryland are the most likely teams to win the Atlantic, and those matchups are very favorable for the Hokies.

One stat to consider - since 2004, Virginia Tech is undefeated in November.

Oh my.

Welcome to the Terror Dome

There are a few teams that could remind Maryland how tough it is to win in Blacksburg on Thursday night - including Maryland!

In 2006, #10 Clemson came in against an unranked Hokie squad and left licking its Tiger paws after a 24-7 decleating.

In 2005, Maryland came calling and quickly exited after getting drubbed 55-6. It was 14-0 in two minutes, and over 40 points were scored by Tech at halftime.

Nobody in their right mind expects this contest to be that ugly, and with the possibilities at quarterback tonight for the Hokies, it becomes even less clear. So muddy, in fact, that I have three different score predictions depending on the signal caller.

If Cory is the lone starter, we win a close and ugly contest 24-20.

If Cory and Sean end up splitting reps (the most likely scenario from what I am told), I project an easier 28-10 victory.

If Sean is the lone starter, I think it is more like 31-13.

It is key that if Cory gets the majority of the reps that he doesn't try to do too much. He is fairly mobile, but needs to get the high percentage passes off, open up play action with the running game, and not turn the ball over.

I look for our defense to be fired up, as it usually is, on Thursday nights. I expect a few turnovers. And as always, the crowd on Thursday nights is electric.

Take a trip down memory lane as we welcome Maryland back to the Terror Dome.

Let's go Bowling IV

As promised, the ACC is going to come down to the last weekend of conference play before we know who is heading to Tampa for the championship game? The frontrunners? No one.

VT is the only one that controls their own destiny in the Coastal. Win out, and they are in. 3 of 4 are at home. Not bad right?

Maryland controls their destiny in the Atlantic, but must make a pit stop in Blacksburg this Thursday night. Think Ralph needs reminding that VT is 14-2 on Thursday nights since 1994?

My updated bowl picks are below. As promised, they are changing week to week:


Congressional Bowl - Duke (ACC #9)
Meineke Car Care - Boston College (ACC #5)
Champs Sports - Georgia Tech (ACC #4)
Emerald Bowl - Wake Forest (ACC #7)
Humanitarian Bowl - Miami (FL) (ACC #8)
Music City Bowl - North Carolina (ACC #6)
Chick-fil-A Bowl - Florida State (ACC #2)
Gator Bowl - Virginia (ACC #3)
Orange Bowl - Virginia Tech (ACC #1)

This Bud's for you.....or not

We as Hokie fans know something that most college football enthusiasts know - Bud Foster is one of the best defensive coordinators in the game.

Apparently Clemson knows it too.

They have contacted Bud for the vacancy, but this shouldn't come as a complete shock to anyone. West Virginia contacted him after Rich Rodriguez bolted for the maize and blue last year, and there will be plenty of other programs hungry for new blood at the end of the season that will likely have Bud on their radar.

Bud has always maintained that he would only leave VT if a BCS school wanted him.

Syracuse
Washington
Auburn
Clemson
Tennessee

And those are just off the top of my head.

As Hokie fans, we may want to prepare ourselves for the inevitability of Bud no longer trolling the sidelines invoking fear and intimidation in his classic defenses. It might make the departure easier.

For me, it won't matter. Bud has had as much if not more to do with Virginia Tech's rise to national respect since 1995 then Beamer, in my opinion. Try to imagine the last 15 seasons without Bud's masterful, stingy defenses scoring on interceptions, fumble recoveries, sacks, and zone blitz packages.

I'd rather not.

Here's hoping that Jim Weaver does some maneuvering to try and keep Bud a Hokie. Frank can't coach forever, and who better to take over?

Selfish right? Fair enough. I am being selfish.

Nobody deserves a shot at the big time more then Bud. And if he gets it, I will root him on and support his time as fervently as I have the Hokies. Just hope Tech never has to face him.

Oh dear.