VA Tech Big!!!!!
The Hokies try to end a disappointing season on a good note when they face California on Friday night in the Insight Bowl at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. After starting 6-0 and being ranked as high as 3rd in the polls, the Hookies stumbled down the stretch going 2-4. Virginia Tech (8-4) is going to a bowl for the 11th straight season.
Coach Tedford?s Golden Bears (7-6) come in at the opposite end of the Spectrum, winners of four of their last five. The Bears, who were a preseason pick to finish eighth in the Pac-10, overachieved all season and are making the school's first bowl game since 1996.
Both offenses have been explosive this year with Tech averaging 34 points a game and the Bears averaging 31 respectively.
All eyes will be on Tech?s star tailback Kevin Jones make his final appearance in a Hookie uniform. Jones set a school single season rushing record with 1,494 yards. VA Tech is predominantly a running team as QB Bryan Randall is the second leading rusher on the team with over 400 yards. VA Tech averages over 200 yards a game on the ground and a staggering 5.3 yards per carry. Still Tech is shown at times that they can burn you deep. Also very talented back-up quarterback Marcus Vick will see his fair share of snaps. Vick is simply a pure athlete and in the college game can give any defense fits.
Cal?s offense comes in with also impressive numbers as well. Cal's balanced attack led the Pac-10 in rushing (170.8) and threw for 254.7 ypg. TB Adimchinobe Echemandu, who ran for 1,161 yards, does the ground work and QB Rodgers is extremely accurate in Cal's sophisticated passing attack. Cal?s offense went buck wild late in the season scoring over 42 points in 3 of their final 4 wins. Although these outbursts seem to be inflated, as they scored 42 against Arizona, who ranks in 108th and 51 against ASU who ranks 83rd. Cal also suffered a huge blow this week when star receiver Geoff McAruthur suffered a broken arm in a practice on Monday. His 85 receptions were twice as many as any other Cal receiver caught, and his 1,504 receiving yards were nearly triple the next guy. This was devastating to their passing game.
Both defense are playing similar eight-man front schemes that try to stop the run first and force opposing offenses to throw the ball. Obviously Jones will be a big concern for Cal. Tech will focus in on TB Adimchinobe Echemandu, who ran for 1,161 yards this season.
The key to this game IMHO is the Tech defense. Bud Foster's bunch was shredded for an average of 30.7 points and 442 yards, and was heavily responsible for the Hokies limping to a 1-3 regular-season finish. The Hokies have circled the wagons the past couple weeks and it will be interesting to see how they respond against a well-balanced offense that has produced 192 points and 2,539 total yards in its past five games. Senior linebacker Vegas Robinson said it's time the real Hokies' defense steps up. "I think we've got one in us here," Robinson said. "We just haven't been playing together and it's time to get back to that. You can tell when you look around, the guys are ready to play this time. I feel we're all taking this trip serious." This will also be star d-back D?Angelo Hall?s final game. The Hokies' multi-purpose star will officially announce in the post-game news conference that he will join Jones as an early entry into the NFL. Hall, who has been projected as a first-round pick by NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., made himself off-limits to the media this week so he wouldn't have to answer questions about his decision.
Hall also is key factor in special teams where the Hokies have a big edge. While Cal is weak in the return game, VT has the dangerous Hall bringing back punts - his 14.5 average ranks No. 7 nationally - and Mike Imoh, the country's No. 5 kickoff return man at 29.1. Cal also has hard time making field goals. Cal PK Tyler Frederickson was 14-for-29 on FGAs, including 8-for-22 outside of 30 yards.
I look for the Hokies defense to finally get their act together and slow down the Cal attack. Also the lose of McAruthur for Cal, will be too much for them to overcome. Yes Cal is very well coached and I am a big fan of Tedford and what he has done with this program. Still VT has the talent edge and appears to have been rejuvenated by the trip here. The Hokies respond and safe face to their season.
VA Tech ?2.5 (-120) many units
The Hokies try to end a disappointing season on a good note when they face California on Friday night in the Insight Bowl at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. After starting 6-0 and being ranked as high as 3rd in the polls, the Hookies stumbled down the stretch going 2-4. Virginia Tech (8-4) is going to a bowl for the 11th straight season.
Coach Tedford?s Golden Bears (7-6) come in at the opposite end of the Spectrum, winners of four of their last five. The Bears, who were a preseason pick to finish eighth in the Pac-10, overachieved all season and are making the school's first bowl game since 1996.
Both offenses have been explosive this year with Tech averaging 34 points a game and the Bears averaging 31 respectively.
All eyes will be on Tech?s star tailback Kevin Jones make his final appearance in a Hookie uniform. Jones set a school single season rushing record with 1,494 yards. VA Tech is predominantly a running team as QB Bryan Randall is the second leading rusher on the team with over 400 yards. VA Tech averages over 200 yards a game on the ground and a staggering 5.3 yards per carry. Still Tech is shown at times that they can burn you deep. Also very talented back-up quarterback Marcus Vick will see his fair share of snaps. Vick is simply a pure athlete and in the college game can give any defense fits.
Cal?s offense comes in with also impressive numbers as well. Cal's balanced attack led the Pac-10 in rushing (170.8) and threw for 254.7 ypg. TB Adimchinobe Echemandu, who ran for 1,161 yards, does the ground work and QB Rodgers is extremely accurate in Cal's sophisticated passing attack. Cal?s offense went buck wild late in the season scoring over 42 points in 3 of their final 4 wins. Although these outbursts seem to be inflated, as they scored 42 against Arizona, who ranks in 108th and 51 against ASU who ranks 83rd. Cal also suffered a huge blow this week when star receiver Geoff McAruthur suffered a broken arm in a practice on Monday. His 85 receptions were twice as many as any other Cal receiver caught, and his 1,504 receiving yards were nearly triple the next guy. This was devastating to their passing game.
Both defense are playing similar eight-man front schemes that try to stop the run first and force opposing offenses to throw the ball. Obviously Jones will be a big concern for Cal. Tech will focus in on TB Adimchinobe Echemandu, who ran for 1,161 yards this season.
The key to this game IMHO is the Tech defense. Bud Foster's bunch was shredded for an average of 30.7 points and 442 yards, and was heavily responsible for the Hokies limping to a 1-3 regular-season finish. The Hokies have circled the wagons the past couple weeks and it will be interesting to see how they respond against a well-balanced offense that has produced 192 points and 2,539 total yards in its past five games. Senior linebacker Vegas Robinson said it's time the real Hokies' defense steps up. "I think we've got one in us here," Robinson said. "We just haven't been playing together and it's time to get back to that. You can tell when you look around, the guys are ready to play this time. I feel we're all taking this trip serious." This will also be star d-back D?Angelo Hall?s final game. The Hokies' multi-purpose star will officially announce in the post-game news conference that he will join Jones as an early entry into the NFL. Hall, who has been projected as a first-round pick by NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., made himself off-limits to the media this week so he wouldn't have to answer questions about his decision.
Hall also is key factor in special teams where the Hokies have a big edge. While Cal is weak in the return game, VT has the dangerous Hall bringing back punts - his 14.5 average ranks No. 7 nationally - and Mike Imoh, the country's No. 5 kickoff return man at 29.1. Cal also has hard time making field goals. Cal PK Tyler Frederickson was 14-for-29 on FGAs, including 8-for-22 outside of 30 yards.
I look for the Hokies defense to finally get their act together and slow down the Cal attack. Also the lose of McAruthur for Cal, will be too much for them to overcome. Yes Cal is very well coached and I am a big fan of Tedford and what he has done with this program. Still VT has the talent edge and appears to have been rejuvenated by the trip here. The Hokies respond and safe face to their season.
VA Tech ?2.5 (-120) many units
