8:30 p.m. ESPN - No. 11 Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 Michigan
Virginia Tech, and Frank Beamer in particular, has said this week that the Hokies are in the conversation when it comes to the best teams in the country, but to be considered truly elite, they need to win more BCS games. The Hokies have another shot tonight as they take on the Michigan Wolverines from the Big Ten. Virginia Tech has been to the fourth most BCS games in the country, behind only Ohio State, USC, and Oklahoma, but it has won just one -- the 2009 Orange Bowl over a Cincinnati team that came from a weak Big East. Tech has yet to beat a team from another conference in a BCS game. Last year in the Orange Bowl, the Hokies stuck around for a half against Stanford but was blown out in the second half and lost 40-12 to the Andrew Luck-led Cardinal.
This year, Virginia Tech will have to contend with another great quarterback -- Denard Robinson -- who has a different style than Luck. Robinson is small and a dynamic athlete who leads Michigan in rushing. If the Hokies can slow him down, they might be able to get that elusive BCS win.
Michigan's defense is much improved and a big reason why it jumped from 7-5 to 10-2 this season. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has the Wolverines ranked in the top 35 in both pass and rush defense. Mattison is a 62-year old with lots of NFL experience, most recently as the defensive coordinaotr of the Ravens from 2008-10 so he has a great pedigree and knows something about tiop-elevel defenses.
Brady Hoke is a terrific up-and-coming coach who has Michigan looking like its former powerhouse self. Hoke turned around horrific programs at Ball State and San Diego State before improving the Wolverines to double-digit wins in his first season in Ann Arbor.
Last year, I picked Virginia Tech to finally get the job done and beat a tough program in a BCS game and it did not happen. Maybe this year is the year but I am going with Michigan. I think it will be a relatively high-scoring game. There are lots of offensive stars in this game with Robinson and Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas, running back David Wilson and receivers Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale. Which ever defense can come up with the most stops or the biggest turnover should win the game.
I expect Virginia Tech to hang around for awhile and maybe lead early, but I think eventually Michigan will just start to wear down the Tech defense.
Michigan 32, Virginia Tech 24
Michigan's defense is much improved and a big reason why it jumped from 7-5 to 10-2 this season. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has the Wolverines ranked in the top 35 in both pass and rush defense. Mattison is a 62-year old with lots of NFL experience, most recently as the defensive coordinaotr of the Ravens from 2008-10 so he has a great pedigree and knows something about tiop-elevel defenses.
Brady Hoke is a terrific up-and-coming coach who has Michigan looking like its former powerhouse self. Hoke turned around horrific programs at Ball State and San Diego State before improving the Wolverines to double-digit wins in his first season in Ann Arbor.
Last year, I picked Virginia Tech to finally get the job done and beat a tough program in a BCS game and it did not happen. Maybe this year is the year but I am going with Michigan. I think it will be a relatively high-scoring game. There are lots of offensive stars in this game with Robinson and Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas, running back David Wilson and receivers Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale. Which ever defense can come up with the most stops or the biggest turnover should win the game.
I expect Virginia Tech to hang around for awhile and maybe lead early, but I think eventually Michigan will just start to wear down the Tech defense.
Michigan 32, Virginia Tech 24
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