Love Va Tech +5 Sept 5: Outright

[TPowell]

damn, wanted to give ya points. You had to overlook that though

[BadNina]

I can post and earn my points like a good girl.

24 more days until Kick Off!!!!!!!! Not that I'm counting or anything.

[ImmaBammer12]

22 till some South Carolina/N.C. State..I'll take any reasonable College Football to get things started. YAY!!!!

Besides, I believe this is Spurriers DO or DIE year.

[paco]

Under is the play. Alabama will take a 14pt lead and continue to run the ball and kill all clock

[TPowell]

[BadNina]

22 till some South Carolina/N.C. State..I'll take any reasonable College Football to get things started. YAY!!!!

Besides, I believe this is Spurriers DO or DIE year.

I dunno. SC seems to love him. They have great crowds and fan support. I think if he at least beats TN he is good.

[gremlin]

So this new SBR won't let me quote in Opera for some reason. Weird.

Anyway, losing Evans today is a huge "hmmmm" in my book for VT's season, because it's not certain yet whether or not Tech will play stronger because of it. Obviously it hurts because he's the only real back VT had that has carries and experience blocking. Josh Oglesby, the "#2" back, though certainly not skillwise, has 38 college carries. Ryan Williams is a redshirt Freshman, and David Wilson is a true Freshman, and neither of them have played college ball. But both of them, Wilson especially, are hands down more talented than Evans and Oglesby. Not as strong, but better RBs anyway. I'm not sure if anyone followed that World Cup Football IFAF nonsense where the USA steamrolled over the rest of the world this summer, but Wilson probably had ~30 carries for 425 yards and 8 TDs over 3 games.

Evans getting hurt pretty much guarantees Wilson will play this season instead of redshirting, and if he can live up to what the hype and practices so far have shown, VT might actually have a better season than without him. Still, I wish Evans the best, because he's a good guy playing football to support his kid, and no one deserves to blow out a knee. I know; it hurts.

I'm positive the spread will keep growing on this news, so VT might be at +9 or so soon. I'll seriously debate playing it for sure if it's gameday and no more injuries have occured. Either way, 3 weeks can't pass quick enough.

[gremlin]

So I can quote my own post, but not anyone elses...again, weird.

Edit: Oh, and for the record, I'm a VT grad, so I'm pretty much a VT homer (I know I know, never bet on "your team"). But I do watch a lot of ACC football, and follow everything going on in the conference, and even prior to this I thought the deciding game factor will be 'Bamas new O-Line and QB versus the VT defense. That hasn't changed.

[MartinBlank]

Gold, you are alright in my books.

I love VT outright. And we don't need no stinkin' points either.

VT on the money line.

[ZBOIZ]

Guys I know Nick Saban coaching style really well from when he was at LSU. Good ol Nicky will try to control this offense since he have first time starter under the center. He will run the ball 70% of the time( yes even with Julio Jones at WR). If V.Tech defense can stop Bama run game than you really have nothing to worry about. But I personally think this game will be very very close, because I do think V.Tech can stop the run. But I do think both offenses will struggle do to the defenses that will be on the field.


I'm waiting on the total

[MartinBlank]

Guys I know Nick Saban coaching style really well from when he was at LSU. Good ol Nicky will try to control this offense since he have first time starter under the center. He will run the ball 70% of the time( yes even with Julio Jones at WR). If V.Tech defense can stop Bama run game than you really have nothing to worry about. But I personally think this game will be very very close, because I do think V.Tech can stop the run. But I do think both offenses will struggle do to the defenses that will be on the field.


I'm waiting on the total

Z....the earth is going to stop rotating...YOU AND I AGREE!!!!

See, who would have thought that?

[onthewhat]

Mushed

Starting VT RB out for season

[BadNina]

McElroy has better mobility than JPW. He should be good to escape the pocket if need be. It isn't like he has never been in a game before. They turned him loose in the ones he made appearances in. He has a good arm. Defensively, Mt. Cody has trimmed down to a svelte 355 so to increase his mobility and endurance.

And need I remind you gentlemen that you loved Clemson last year?

[ImmaBammer12]

McElroy has better mobility than JPW. He should be good to escape the pocket if need be. It isn't like he has never been in a game before. They turned him loose in the ones he made appearances in. He has a good arm. Defensively, Mt. Cody has trimmed down to a svelte 355 so to increase his mobility and endurance.

And need I remind you gentlemen that you loved Clemson last year?

Nina, you sure know your Tide team. I truly believe McElroy will be fine as our QB as well. He's not inexperienced like JP was when took the reigns after Brody Croyle left the team. JP never had any play time until he got to start that following season. McElroy has play time in games in which he performed well and lead the team.

There's signs of life in the O Line as Saban has already said it looks as though veterans Michael Johnson and Drew Davis will likely start. Along with JuCo transfer James Carpenter is said to be a strong member of the Offensive Line. Lastly, award winning William Vlachos is likely to be the one replacing Antionne Caldwell at Center. Still lots of time and I really hope DJ Fluker makes the cut to start as his game film is amazing.

[TPowell]

Bama should win by a score or more

[BadNina]

ImmaBammer, I love me some Tide. Raised on it. Even Mr. Nina knows that come kick off time I am either in the stadium or in front of the tv. I don't answer any phone calls or answer the door.

[jjgold]

VA Tech has always been a big game type of team and perform well in these type of games. I know they are more of a closer but this year they need to pay well from game 1.

[Mac4Lyfe]

VA Tech has always been a big game type of team and perform well in these type of games. I know they are more of a closer but this year they need to pay well from game 1.

Please pass what your smoking Gold. When is the last time VT has had a signature win (don't say Cinci last year). VT hasn't beaten a quality team since they were in the Big East

[gremlin]

VT's record versus ranked teams since they joined the ACC:

'04
#1 Southern California L, 13-24 (but if there was ever a game to bitch about the refs giving it away, it is this one)
#6 West Virginia W, 19-13
#16 Virginia * W, 24-10
at #9 Miami * W, 16-10
vs. #3 Auburn L, 13- 16 (bowl)

'05
#15 Georgia Tech * W, 51-7
#13 Boston College * W, 30-10
#5 Miami * L, 7-27
vs. #15 Louisville W, 35-24 (bowl)

'06
#24 Georgia Tech * L, 27-38
#10 Clemson * W, 24-7
at #14 Wake Forest * W, 27-6

'07
at #2 LSU L, 7-48
at #22 Clemson * W, 41-23
#2 Boston College * L, 10-14 (the Matt Ryan comeback game, on my effing BIRTHDAY even!)
at #16 Virginia * W, 33-21
vs. #12 Boston College W, 30-16
vs. #8 Kansas L, 21-24 (bowl)

'08
at #24 Florida State * L, 20-30
#23 Maryland * W, 23-13
vs. #18 Boston College W, 30-12
vs. #12 Cincinnati W, 20-7 (bowl)


So overall VT is 14-8 versus ranked teams since joining the ACC. Is VT the best team in the nation? No. Is VT a decently solid team with 5 consecutive 10 win seasons, only joined by Texas and USC? Yes.

Bonus: No fkn FCS teams this year (or next), and they also replaced Syracuse with Boise St next year. I hope Florida has fun playing Directional Garbage Northern State and Bakery.

[Mac4Lyfe]

VT's record versus ranked teams since they joined the ACC:

'04
#1 Southern California L, 13-24 (but if there was ever a game to bitch about the refs giving it away, it is this one). You want credit for a loss???
#6 West Virginia W, 19-13 I'm not sure where your getting a lousy 8-4 WVU at #6
#16 Virginia * W, 24-10 They ended up 8-4 and barely ranked #23
at #9 Miami * W, 16-10 9-3 ranked #11 but not what I would call top tiered. Coker sucked balls.
vs. #3 Auburn L, 13- 16 (bowl) There you go counting losses again

The 2 quality teams they played they lost. This was probably their best year but no signature win IMO.

'05
#15 Georgia Tech * W, 51-7 Surely this is a joke. GT was 7-5 and unranked
#13 Boston College * W, 30-10 9-3 and overrated and overranked at #18
#5 Miami * L, 7-27 A lousy 9-3 Miami on the decline plus you all lost???
vs. #15 Louisville W, 35-24 (bowl) 9-3 ranked #20

You also lost to a lousy FSU team this year. Once again not 1 signature win.

'06
#24 Georgia Tech * L, 27-38 Bad lost to a 9-5 not very good unranked GT
#10 Clemson * W, 24-7 8-5 unranked Clemson
at #14 Wake Forest * W, 27-6 11-3 ranked #18 Wake who also wasn't exactly elite

Losses to barely top 25 UGA and BC that year as well. Still no signature win here.

'07
at #2 LSU L, 7-48 Horrible loss
at #22 Clemson * W, 41-23 9-4 ranked #21 Clemson
#2 Boston College * L, 10-14 (the Matt Ryan comeback game, on my effing BIRTHDAY even!) 11-3 ranked #11 BC
at #16 Virginia * W, 33-21 9-4 and unranked Virginia
vs. #12 Boston College W, 30-16 The same good team in BC but not close to elite
vs. #8 Kansas L, 21-24 (bowl) 12 -1 ranked #7 Kansas do you want points for losses?

I still don't see a signature win anywhere.

'08
at #24 Florida State * L, 20-30 9-4 ranked #21 average FSU team
#23 Maryland * W, 23-13 8-5 Unranked Maryland
vs. #18 Boston College W, 30-12 9-5 unranked BC
vs. #12 Cincinnati W, 20-7 (bowl) 11-3 ranked #17 Cinci - very average team.

Also losses to Miami, BC and a Lost to East Carolina for christ sakes... No signature win.


So overall VT is 14-8 versus ranked teams since joining the ACC. Is VT the best team in the nation? No. Is VT a decently solid team with 5 consecutive 10 win seasons, only joined by Texas and USC? Yes.

Bonus: No fkn FCS teams this year (or next), and they also replaced Syracuse with Boise St next year. I hope Florida has fun playing Directional Garbage Northern State and Bakery.

VT has zero wins against a top 10 team (please don't use preseason rankings)... VT routinely beats up on weaker teams and the ACC but get's beat anytime they step up to any other BCS conference. You have to go back to 2003 for a win against a team in the top 5.

You want to question Florida's schedule versus VT? UF's 3 national championships were won with UF having the #1 strength of schedule twice and the #2 SOS last year.

Try and find one year that VT had a tougher SOS than UF and get back to me. Even Ron Zook could have won 10 games a year at UF if he played VT's schedule every year. You have 1 quality team on your schedule this year. ONE... but we already know the outcome of that game.

[gremlin]

So....you only want me to count games versus ranked teams based on where they end up? Because every single ranking I posted there was accurate. I couldn't tell you where to find final rankings for the past 5 years, nor would I go through every game VT played and look up final rankings for all of those teams to answer a routine question. I was simply posting the results to every top 25 team they have played. If you don't think any of those teams are quality, then us debating back and forth isn't going to change anyones mind.

And of course I don't want credit for a loss, but I'm not about to post only wins and declare them the greatest team in college football. That is EVERY game they played against a ranked opponent at the time of the game. How else would you have me do it?

Again, I can't find ending SoS past last year, and I believe you when you say that Florida's was higher, but I don't believe VT has been very far behind, and have also left their state to find decent teams to play. I am 100% positive that Urban Meyer would never let his AD throw Florida in a game like VT/Bama or Miami/OK. Bottom line is the SEC plays a garbage OOC schedule. Garbage.

Games versus the Sun Belt(may as well be 1-AA; complete joke of a "mid-major") and other non 1-A games this decade:
SEC 125 games: 120-5
Big 12: 116 games: 110-6
ACC 67 games: 64-3
Big East 50 games: 47-3
Big Ten 48 games: 43-5
Pac 10 43 games: 42-1.

I took that from another post, so I can't verify the accuracy, but it seems plausible. Florida is a good team right now, but VT isn't god awful. And the SEC isn't the epitome of college football. They just play the BCS game better.

[Mac4Lyfe]

The problem is that you are not posting the results of every top 25 team they played. If you don't know how or where to find final rankings then you shouldn't discuss CFB. Who cares where a team starts because preseason polls are garbage. Case in point, you list GT a couple of times but they were unranked at the end of the season. How and why they were even ranked preseason is beyond me. To use any of the teams you used means nothing because they were all poor teams. I'm still asking you to show me 1 quality win that VT has had? Even better, show me a win over a top 10 team??? They don't have any... The best you will find is the 04 win over Miami who was ranked #11...

I have nothing against VT and they are a quality team. They are consistent at winning 10 games a year BUT I can't find any signature wins, anywhere. Anytime they play a top 10 team they lose. That's all I'm saying.

I'm not sure where the SEC came into this discussion because I could care less about the SEC. I'm a Florida fan but that doesn't mean I'm an SEC fan. UF has had many signature wins in the same time span but I'm not getting into a comparison contest. I said and I still stand by what I said and I quote "When is the last time VT has had a signature win (don't say Cinci last year). VT hasn't beaten a quality team since they were in the Big East "

[gremlin]

I guess I should have said I didn't want to check their schedule versus final rankings, not that I couldn't. That was just me being lazy, sorry.

Who would you consider a signature team that they played in that timespan? USC and Auburn in '04 since they were both undefeated, and then LSU in '07? That all I can really see. Teams that perennially finish in the top 10 rarely seem to play other "quality" teams out of conference, sadly.

[BamaBill67]

I would say, and yes I am byassed, lol, that VT is a slow starting team. Example, ECU last year. Bama has a very very good defense (so does VT) and as far as the offense goes McElroy is a very good replacement (no loss there) at QB. People here have failed to mention Sabans top freshman RB recruit, Richardson. Many have said that Richardson will be the starter. Ingram is good, but that is bold statement from Bama fans that I know. If I feel this right, it will be a repeat of last years game against Clemson, which IMHO was the downfall of Clemsons season. Frank Beamer is stronger than that to let his team suffer from one loss so, it want be the same there. I think 24-10 BAMA.

[Sam Odom]

Alabama wins! Two reasons, Saban & defense.

[gremlin]

I dunno, I still don't really think they have it in the bag. That new O-Line 'Bama has could be a huge weak spot. I think that and how well the two new VT RB's play(Williams and Wilson) will decide it. If they play up to their potential, VT can take it. If they start slow due to their both being Freshmen, than VT is in trouble.

[The Lizard King]

Tyrod Taylor will have his dunce cap on for this game. He folds against real defense's. That's why I don't like V-Tech...although Bama's not a spectacular choice either. Gonna be a low-scoring slugfest. I'll look at the total in this one, but probably not the side.

[Mac4Lyfe]

Tyrod Taylor will have his dunce cap on for this game. He folds against real defense's. That's why I don't like V-Tech...although Bama's not a spectacular choice either. Gonna be a low-scoring slugfest. I'll look at the total in this one, but probably not the side.

Very true, TT is a train wreck waiting to happen. You have to keep a short lease on this guy. If he beats Bama, I would be shocked. I think he will find a way to blow the game.

[SoonerBS]

Very true, TT is a train wreck waiting to happen. You have to keep a short lease on this guy. If he beats Bama, I would be shocked. I think he will find a way to blow the game.

It may look like TT has blown the game, but it will be the cause of Alabama's superior defense. The defense has not gone away from Alabama, guys, they are going to be as tough as last year's team if not better. Whenever you have an offense as weak as V Tech's, that can spell disaster.

[Sam Odom]

Pinnacle

Line History:
Virginia Tech vs Alabama


POINTSPREADS

08/11 10:00 +5½ -105 / -5½ -105
08/11 18:00 +5½ -114 / -5½ +104
08/11 19:26 +4½ -105 / -4½ -105
08/11 19:31 +4½ -103 / -4½ -107
08/11 20:41 +5½ -106 / -5½ -104
08/11 20:46 +5½ +102 / -5½ -112
08/12 09:45 +6½ +102 / -6½ -112
08/13 14:46 +6½ -105 / -6½ -105
08/20 14:49 +7 -110 / -7 +100

[ImmaBammer12]

Pinnacle

Line History:
Virginia Tech vs Alabama


POINTSPREADS

08/11 10:00 +5½ -105 / -5½ -105
08/11 18:00 +5½ -114 / -5½ +104
08/11 19:26 +4½ -105 / -4½ -105
08/11 19:31 +4½ -103 / -4½ -107
08/11 20:41 +5½ -106 / -5½ -104
08/11 20:46 +5½ +102 / -5½ -112
08/12 09:45 +6½ +102 / -6½ -112
08/13 14:46 +6½ -105 / -6½ -105
08/20 14:49 +7 -110 / -7 +100

Well, at just under two weeks away from this game I'd still give 7 points. Richardson may be a factor but there are three other very experienced vets ahead of him and then there's Julio and Marquise Maze. the O line is suspect but quickly improving. With AJ McCarren likely to get the QB #2 spot we should be ok at that spot short of just getting some reps in for the experience. Either way this goes I'm just ready for some College Football BABY!!!!

[AdamL2424]

isnt Va Tech's RB out with a knee injury?

[gremlin]

VT RB situation, from a homer(but also someone who knows the team):

Evans is gone for the season with a torn ACL. He was a decent back for sure, but I honestly didn't think he was the greatest last year, though he did get better towards the end of the season, and straight dominated Maryland. He was a redshirt freshman that came out of nowhere last season when their starting back(Kenny Lewis Jr) tore his Achilles.

This season, VT will have Josh Oglesby returning (only had 38 carries last season as a RS Soph). He wasn't highly recruited, always been lower on the depth charts, and as a result apparently didn't put a ton of effort into it. He's supposed to have turned that around last spring, but who knows. He's the projected #1, but only because he has game experience. He probably won't stay there long(not even through this game), but will be the only real "pounder" they have back there now.

The two and 3 deep at the start will be Ryan Williams(R-Fresh) and David Wilson(Fresh). Both are solid prospects and should get the bulk of the carries for the next few years. Williams (per Rivals) was the #3 back in the nation in '08, Wilson the #4 in '09. Last year VT's D said repeatedly the best back they played against all year was Williams, who was part of the O scout team. Teams obviously tend to stick together though, so take that for what it's worth.

Evans ran for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns last year as a Freshman, and the only reason neither of the guys above will top that this year is because they'll be splitting carries, not because they aren't more talented. Even without Evans, the VT backfield is much more talented this season in all aspects except experience and size. Evans ran into defenses, Wilson and Williams won't. They also have a prep school freshman named Tony Gregory getting some carries right now, but I don't know much about him. He wasn't highly recruited, but neither was Evans.

So that is the VT situation at running back. I do bet VT games, but I'm not touching this one. I think VT can win, and certainly hope they do, but too much can go wrong. Shit, I think Maryland +21 is a better bet, and that's not saying much.

[Ralphie1412]

I;ll worry about the game on Set. 5

dude....sam is way to busy to be wasting his time

[Zelda]

Line movement says Tech +5 is a bad bet, sorry JJ