I hope you guys were with me last night on Miami(OH) and took the 'dogs and the points in NCAAB play! That's going to let me play this one a little bit more than I would.
Virginia Tech:
David Wilson (VT's starting RB) lead the entire NCAA in rushing yards until last week, falling to 2nd place (only 13 yards behind 1st). This is in an offense that is just starting to click with a new QB in Logan Thomas who has a cannon of an arm and threat on the ground as well. Not nearly as elusive as is predecessor Tyrod Taylor, Thomas employs more of a power running attack and his 6'6'' 250 frame often makes him a deliverer of pain to opposing linebackers and defensive backs. You can expect to see some read-option with he and Wilson, although VT runs a multiple set offense and that is only one part of it. The QB's coach is now the play-caller and the Hokies are willing to air it out if the Yellowjackets commit to the run.
Both offenses are ball control offenses, and it should be noted that GT's defensive coordinator has always struggled against Virginia Tech going 1-8 as a Head coach (& Def. coordinator) at in-state rival Virginia. As far as the defensive changes Virginia Tech has made for this game during their bye-week to combat the triple-option: VT shifted one of their best pass rushers to DT, and a future NFL talent corner (Fuller) to a whip/nickel position. For those unfamiliar with Bud Foster's scheme at Tech, they run a hybrid 4-4 gap control defense with basically 8 in the box every down and 2 corners in mostly man coverage.
Georgia Tech:
Offensively if you've ever seen a Paul Johnson coached team, you know what he runs. The triple-option has found early success in the ACC as most of the teams never face triple-option teams much less face them regularly. It also helped that in his first couple years he was coaching a team with 2 early round NFL guys on defense and a 1st round talent in burner WR Demaryius Thomas that made teams respect GT's passing game.
This year, the Yellowjackets are 4-2 in ACC play and contending for controlling their own destiny to the ACC Championship game by winning tonight against the Hokies. However, so far, their 3 most convincing wins are over bottom-tier conference opponents. They beat Cleamson but some would dispute that Clemson gave that game away. GT has alot of guys that can carry the ball, and if they can use their ball-control offense to wear down the VT defense and keep them on the field they will have a very solid shot at this game. GT runs a 3-4 defensive scheme but has shown different looks this year as DC Al Groh attempts to be pulling out all the stops to keep himself off the hotseat.
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The two opposing coaches have traded shots in the past, with GT being known in ACC circles for employing "chop-block" techniques and having several coaches trade barbs with him over this issue. This is going to be an exciting game all night long and it will be close. I'm not surprised at the line in this one at all. However there is just something about the Thursday Night "mystique" that surrounds Virginia Tech football and is part of Frank Beamer's legacy. The Hokies are 17-2 all time in Thursday night games and have won 11 straight ACC road games.
The Pick: Virginia Tech (-1)
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Virginia Tech:
David Wilson (VT's starting RB) lead the entire NCAA in rushing yards until last week, falling to 2nd place (only 13 yards behind 1st). This is in an offense that is just starting to click with a new QB in Logan Thomas who has a cannon of an arm and threat on the ground as well. Not nearly as elusive as is predecessor Tyrod Taylor, Thomas employs more of a power running attack and his 6'6'' 250 frame often makes him a deliverer of pain to opposing linebackers and defensive backs. You can expect to see some read-option with he and Wilson, although VT runs a multiple set offense and that is only one part of it. The QB's coach is now the play-caller and the Hokies are willing to air it out if the Yellowjackets commit to the run.
Both offenses are ball control offenses, and it should be noted that GT's defensive coordinator has always struggled against Virginia Tech going 1-8 as a Head coach (& Def. coordinator) at in-state rival Virginia. As far as the defensive changes Virginia Tech has made for this game during their bye-week to combat the triple-option: VT shifted one of their best pass rushers to DT, and a future NFL talent corner (Fuller) to a whip/nickel position. For those unfamiliar with Bud Foster's scheme at Tech, they run a hybrid 4-4 gap control defense with basically 8 in the box every down and 2 corners in mostly man coverage.
Georgia Tech:
Offensively if you've ever seen a Paul Johnson coached team, you know what he runs. The triple-option has found early success in the ACC as most of the teams never face triple-option teams much less face them regularly. It also helped that in his first couple years he was coaching a team with 2 early round NFL guys on defense and a 1st round talent in burner WR Demaryius Thomas that made teams respect GT's passing game.
This year, the Yellowjackets are 4-2 in ACC play and contending for controlling their own destiny to the ACC Championship game by winning tonight against the Hokies. However, so far, their 3 most convincing wins are over bottom-tier conference opponents. They beat Cleamson but some would dispute that Clemson gave that game away. GT has alot of guys that can carry the ball, and if they can use their ball-control offense to wear down the VT defense and keep them on the field they will have a very solid shot at this game. GT runs a 3-4 defensive scheme but has shown different looks this year as DC Al Groh attempts to be pulling out all the stops to keep himself off the hotseat.
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The two opposing coaches have traded shots in the past, with GT being known in ACC circles for employing "chop-block" techniques and having several coaches trade barbs with him over this issue. This is going to be an exciting game all night long and it will be close. I'm not surprised at the line in this one at all. However there is just something about the Thursday Night "mystique" that surrounds Virginia Tech football and is part of Frank Beamer's legacy. The Hokies are 17-2 all time in Thursday night games and have won 11 straight ACC road games.
The Pick: Virginia Tech (-1)
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