NCAA grants Tide a win, Hokies a loss before kickoff....

Ok, Ok, so the above is a LITTLE bit misleading, but if anyone has been following the media this week, all the Tide need do is take the field tomorrow night, and a convincing win is proffered. On one hand, it is hard to blame them. It was a mere two years ago when the #9 Hokies took the field in Baton Rouge against eventual national champion LSU and got completely clocked. I understand that perception is what it is for a reason; the ACC is God awful against out of conference competition, particularly the SEC. The ACC took a monumental step in the wrong direction last night, for instance, when at home, the Wolfpack couldn't beat a mediocre-at-best South Carolina squad.

Frank Beamer will be the first one to tell you that tomorrow night's game could mean big things for not only the ACC, but also for Virginia Tech who is 1-24 against AP top 5 teams all time. That's downright bad. But, also consider that VT has only really been relevant in big time college football for about 15 years or so. A lot of those losses came before Beamer's time. To say this is the biggest game in the history of Virginia Tech football might seem an overstatement, but it really isn't. We are at the precipice of something very great here; a national championship in the next 3-5 years is not really so far fetched. In fact, if it doesn't happen then, I fear it never will.

I do think that if VT is going to take the next step into competing for a national title and even being in the discussion, they must win games like this. When you consider the big time games that VT has played (#1 FSU in 99, #7 LSU in 2002, #2 Miami in 2003, #1 USC and #3 Auburn in 2004), there has been great opportunity for wins. Now is the time to make it happen.

Tech will field a vastly underrated team tomorrow night with a fast, athletic defense and an offense that is ready to take the next step forward, albeit without Darren Evans.

Don't get me wrong; Alabama fields a strong team in its own right. But what the media seems to neglect is the fact that they lost 3 starters from their offensive line, including an All American in the NFL now, an all conference running back, and an experienced quarterback. Sure, they have Julio Jones. Fine. No question. But who is going to block to get him space when Bud Foster sicks the dogs on all that inexperience? The offensive line is the most important part of any offense. Just ask VT. It has been our Achilles Heel until this year. Expect to see much better pass and run blocking then in season's past.

Will we run and thrown for 300 yards against Bama's tough defense? Doubtful. Will Bama roll over VT? Doubtful. Will special teams and turnovers dictate the winner? Almost certainly.

Nick Saban is a very, very good coach. He has recruited top tier talent to Tuscaloosa. The SEC is flat out better then the ACC. All the above our true. But it's time to change perception, and it starts now. The loss of Darren Evans is important, but not a deal breaker. You will meet Ryan Williams and David Wilson soon enough, and be impressed. I am predicting a low scoring, defensive football game between two teams that are mirror images of one another: a run first offense that loves to play ball control, control the clock offense setting up the play action pass. A defense that thrives on misdirection and confusing blitzes that force lesser quarterbacks into rough decisions and turnovers.

Thankfully, I am not a member of the media:

VT 17 Bama 13

GO HOKIES!