Virginia Tech Hokies 2009 Football Betting Preview

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Virginia Tech 2008 Record: (10-4, 5-3)
Virginia Tech 2008 Bowl: Orange Bowl vs. Cincinnati (W 20-7)
Virginia Tech Coach: Frank Beamer (177-89-2 at Virginia Tech, 219-112-4 overall)
Virginia Tech Offensive Coordinator: Bryan Stinespring
Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator: Bud Foster
Virginia Tech Returning Stats Leaders:

• Rushing: Darren Evans, RB, 1,265 yards
• Passing: Tyrod Taylor, QB, 1,036 yards
• Receiving: Jarrett Boykin, WR, 441 yards
• Tackles: Cody Grimm, LB, 71
• Sacks: Jason Worilds, DE, 8.0
• Interceptions: Stephan Virgil, CB, 6

Notable Virginia Tech Returning Players: TE Greg Boone, S Kam Chancellor, WR Danny Coale, OT Blake DeChristopher, DT John Graves, LB Cam Martin, S Dorian Porch, G Sergio Render, DT Cordarrow Thompson, OT Ed Wang

Virginia Tech Key Losses: CB Victor Harris, K Dustin Keys, G Nick Marshman, DE Orion Martin, C Ryan Shuman, LB Purnell Sturdivant, LB Brett Warren

The Hokies had an up and down year in 2008, beginning with a season-opening upset loss to East Carolina, which dropped them out of the rankings. Losses in three straight road games at midseason appeared to end Tech’s chances at back to back conference titles but wins in their final two conference games and chaos across the league vaulted them back into the ACC Title Game, where they defeated BC. Their Orange Bowl win improved their final record to 10-4, their 5th straight ten win season! In five years in ACC play, the Hokies have 3 championships and another championship game loss, making them by far the conference’s best team since expansion. With sixteen starters back this year, can head coach Frank Beamer’s team win three straight league titles?

The Virginia Tech offense will be led by junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who ran for over 700 yards and 7 touchdowns while passing for over 1,000 yards in split duties last fall. Taylor’s skill set is very similar to the school’s greatest player, Michael Vick, and this fall will be his first season fully in charge after splitting time the last two years. If Taylor can remain healthy, he could be a very dangerous quarterback as his top six pass catchers from 2008 return. He will also be aided by a strong running game, led by sophomore Darren Evans, who ran for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, good enough to be named a 2nd team All-ACC performer. Evans didn’t take over as the full time starter at tailback until the season was a few games old so his numbers could be even better this fall! The Hokie offensive line is a veteran group that brings back three starters, led by senior guard Sergio Render, who will start for the 4 th straight year. This should be one of the conference’s better lines in 2008. Overall, Taylor has yet to really capitalize on his enormous potential and I think that this is the year that he lives up to his recruiting hype. We all know that he is enormously gifted running the football but he needs to develop a passing game. After injuries and ineffectiveness limited Tech to 22 points per game last year, I expect a much better passing attack mixed with a powerful running game to produce a very strong offensive showing in 2009.

Want to know the secret to the Hokies’ three ACC titles? Their defense hasn’t allowed more than 16 points per game in a single season since joining the conference! That trend could easily continue this fall as Tech returns seven starters from last season’s stellar defense. The really interesting fact was that Tech allowed opponents to average over 100 yards per game on the ground for the first time in five years last fall. However, I expect that to change this year as three starters return on the front line, led by junior 2nd team All-ACC defensive end John Worilds, who contributed 62 tackles and 8 sacks last year. The Hokies should have one of the conference’s best defensive lines in 2008, especially if they replace departed Orion Martin’s 7.5 sacks from last season. The linebackers also appear quite solid as seniors Cam Martin and Cody Grimm return after combining for 122 tackles and 9.5 sacks in 2008. Expect both to anchor a very good group that shouldn’t see any drop off. The secondary is also very experienced with three returning senior starters! Despite losing 2nd team All-American Macho Harris to the NFL draft, this could be a fantastic secondary. Cornerback Stephan Virgil had 6 interceptions last year and safety Cam Chancellor is a big time playmaker, so the Hokies will be very tough against the pass. Virginia Tech has fielded the conference’s toughest defense to score on in each of the past five seasons and I see no reason for that to change this fall. This will continue to be the conference’s best defense.

The schedule is a very competitive slate, beginning with the biggest game during the season’s opening weekend as the Hokies travel to Atlanta to face Alabama. The non-conference also includes a home date with Nebraska and a revenge game at East Carolina, so the Hokies will be challenged. However, the conference draw is pretty favorable, featuring a visit to middling Maryland and visits from decimated Boston College and contender NC State. The Hokies also open with four home games and another at a neutral site in the first six weeks, so they’re in good position to start the year strong. If they emerge from September 4-0 after playing Bama, Nebraska and Miami, no one will doubt their credentials as a top 5 team in the country. They host two of the three other major contenders for the division title and their road schedule of Duke, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia Tech should produce no worse than a 3-1 record. Virginia Tech will have a very strong running game and a great defense like usual but the difference this season is that Tyrod Taylor appears primed for a breakout season. If Taylor can begin to capitalize upon his enormous potential, the Hokies are the favorite in the ACC and will be an instant contender for the National Title if they beat Alabama to kick off the year.

Virginia Tech Hokies Big Games: Sept. 5th vs. Alabama, Sept. 19th vs. Nebraska, Sept. 26th vs. Miami, Oct. 17th @ Georgia Tech, Oct. 29th vs. UNC, Nov. 21st, vs. NC State, Nov. 28th vs. UVA

Virginia Tech ‘s Strength:

The biggest losses are on defense where linebackers Purnell Sturdivant and Brett Warren, cornerback Victor Harris and defensive end Orion Martin must be replaced. But this is Virginia Tech after all…there are plenty of players ready to step up and fill the void. On the front line it is Jason Worilds who has emerged as a terror to any opposing quarterback. There are a few more questions for the linebackers. Cam Martin is the lone starter back, but Cody Grimm is an extremely experienced player and is actually the returning player who tallied the most tackles a year ago. The secondary might just be the best of the bunch. Harris will be missed, but Virgil is a superb defender who picked off six passes last season and Kam Chancellor and Dorian Porch are both seniors. Chancellor will be starting for his third straight year and he will certainly be the leader of a strong secondary.

Virginia Tech ‘s Weakness:

The defense will at least be as good as it was last year, but the offense has to improve if VT has grandiose dreams of a national championship appearance. The good news is just about everybody is back. The bad news is they ranked near the bottom of the ACC in just about every statistical category. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor had some injury problems in 2008, but the then sophomore still showed the world that he could be a great dual-threat quarterback. Now, as an upperclassman, he just has to do it more consistently. With tight end Greg Boone and receivers Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale back, Taylor is set up for success. Boykin and Coale are just sophomores and they could be in for a great season if Taylor can get them the ball. Speaking of talented sophomores who over exceeded their expectations as freshman, running back Darren Evans ran for over 1,200 yards last season. If the passing game is again one of the worst in the nation, at least Evans can move the chains.

Our Prediction for the 2009 Hokies:

In the end the success or failure of the offense could depend on the offensive line as much as it does on Taylor or Evans. Center Ryan Shuman and Nick Marshman are gone, but seniors Ed Wang and Sergio Render have a ton of experience and sophomore tackle Blake DeChristopher had a solid sophomore season and could turn into a great tackle opposite of Wang.

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