The ACC is 0-1 so far in bowls after Duke's 48-34 loss to Cincinnati (out of the Big East) in the Belk Bowl last night. It was tied with about a minute left in the fourth quarter and Duke was at the Cincy five-yard line getting ready to score a go-ahead touchdown or field goal. Then the Blue Devils fumbled and the Bearcats turned around and got an 83-yard touchdown catch and run and then an interception return for a touchdown to seal it. One of the crazier choke jobs from the ACC in awhile and there have been plenty.
Today, Virginia Tech (6-6) plays Rutgers (9-3) in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orando, Fla., at 5:30 p.m. The game is being televised on ESPN.
It's ACC vs. Big East again. The Hokies dominated the Scarlet Knights when both teams resided in the Big East, but a lot has changed since Tech made the jump to the ACC for the 2004 season. Rutgers has become a respectable program the past decade. Greg Schiano, now the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, engineered the rebirth and this year, Kyle Flood, the offensive line coach for the Knights from 2006-11 took over. In 2006, the Knights went 11-2 and today, Rugters will be going for another 10-win season.
Virginia Tech has already lost to two Big East teams this year -- 35-17 to Pittsburgh and 27-24 to Cincinnati. This will be the first ACC team Rutgers has played this season. Rutgers also got blown out by Pittsburgh, 27-6, but it beat Cincy, 10-3.
I mostly give the edge to Rutgers in this game. The Knights have just had the better overall season. One place where I do pause, however, is the way each team got to the bowl. Virginia Tech was 4-6 and had to win its last two games just to become bowl eligible. Granted, it wasn't against terrific competition in Boston College and Virginia, but the Hokies did it. So Tech should have a little momentum going into this game. The Hokies have won two straight games for the first time since beginning the season 2-0. Rutgers, on the other hand, started the year 7-0 but faltered down the stretch, going 2-3 in its final five games. Still, the Knights had a chance to win the Big East and go to a BCS game at home on Nov. 29, but lost to Louisville, 20-17, and the Cardinals instead got a berth to Sugar Bowl where they will face Florida.
This game should be one of the more low-scoring games of the bowl season. Both teams were carried by their defenses this year. Rutgers is fifth in the nation in points allowed per game (14.3). Tech is 38th (23.9) but came around as the season went on.
I think this will be an interesting game between two teams heading in opposite directions somewhat as the regular season closed. I think the break will have allowed Rutgers to regain its focus, though, and the Scarlet Knights will put on a strong defensive performance. And so far this season, unfortunately, the Big East has proven it is better than the ACC.
Rutgers 17, Virginia Tech 14
Today, Virginia Tech (6-6) plays Rutgers (9-3) in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orando, Fla., at 5:30 p.m. The game is being televised on ESPN.
It's ACC vs. Big East again. The Hokies dominated the Scarlet Knights when both teams resided in the Big East, but a lot has changed since Tech made the jump to the ACC for the 2004 season. Rutgers has become a respectable program the past decade. Greg Schiano, now the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, engineered the rebirth and this year, Kyle Flood, the offensive line coach for the Knights from 2006-11 took over. In 2006, the Knights went 11-2 and today, Rugters will be going for another 10-win season.
Virginia Tech has already lost to two Big East teams this year -- 35-17 to Pittsburgh and 27-24 to Cincinnati. This will be the first ACC team Rutgers has played this season. Rutgers also got blown out by Pittsburgh, 27-6, but it beat Cincy, 10-3.
I mostly give the edge to Rutgers in this game. The Knights have just had the better overall season. One place where I do pause, however, is the way each team got to the bowl. Virginia Tech was 4-6 and had to win its last two games just to become bowl eligible. Granted, it wasn't against terrific competition in Boston College and Virginia, but the Hokies did it. So Tech should have a little momentum going into this game. The Hokies have won two straight games for the first time since beginning the season 2-0. Rutgers, on the other hand, started the year 7-0 but faltered down the stretch, going 2-3 in its final five games. Still, the Knights had a chance to win the Big East and go to a BCS game at home on Nov. 29, but lost to Louisville, 20-17, and the Cardinals instead got a berth to Sugar Bowl where they will face Florida.
This game should be one of the more low-scoring games of the bowl season. Both teams were carried by their defenses this year. Rutgers is fifth in the nation in points allowed per game (14.3). Tech is 38th (23.9) but came around as the season went on.
I think this will be an interesting game between two teams heading in opposite directions somewhat as the regular season closed. I think the break will have allowed Rutgers to regain its focus, though, and the Scarlet Knights will put on a strong defensive performance. And so far this season, unfortunately, the Big East has proven it is better than the ACC.
Rutgers 17, Virginia Tech 14
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