#16 Virginia Tech Hokies Preview

By: Matt Fargo

Fall camps are under way and the regular season will be here soon so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#16 – Virginia Tech Hokies 11-2 SU; 10-3 ATS

Fargo’s Take Virginia Tech usually comes into the preseason as a top 10 team since it is typically loaded everywhere. That is not the case heading into the 2006 season however as there are more questions than answers on offense heading into the campaign. If Marcus Vick actually had common sense, he’d be entering his senior season as starting quarterback and the Hokies would likely be a top five team. Unfortunately, he lacked that rationale and Virginia Tech could be in for a long season on offense. The good news is that the defense is so supreme that it can carry the offense for a majority of the season. The Hokies aren’t likely going to compete for a National Championship or even an ACC Championship for that matter but it is still good enough to get back into a bowl game for a 14th straight season.

Returning Starters on Offense – 5 With Vick getting tossed from school, the quarterback duties belong to sophomore Sean Glennon. Glennon did not throw a pass last season as he was redshirted and tossed only 11 passes in his freshman season in 2004 so experience is obviously a huge concern. The top three receivers are back, led by senior David Clowney, so that will give Glennon some comfort. He will have a solid running back in Branden Ore to hand off to that is if Ore can stay healthy. However, the real concern that affects everyone already mentioned is the offensive line that needs to replace three starters from last season. This was one of the best groups in the country last year with four senior starters but expect some growing pains early on this season.

Returning Starters on Defense – 6 The Hokies finished 8th or higher in all four major defensive categories last season including 1st in total defense, allowing just 247.6 ypg. The unit will be stout once again despite the loss of five starters. Three of those are from the defensive line, the biggest loss being end Darryl Tapp, but there was so much depth across the line that there won’t be much of a falloff. The linebackers will be arguably the best group in the ACC and top five in the country. Inside backers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi are both mentioned in preseason All-American watch lists. The secondary loses consensus All-American Jimmy Williams but three starters are back as well as super sophomore corner Victor Harris. The opportunistic defense is always good for a few scores throughout the season and one of the main reasons that even though the Hokies were 57th in total offense, they finished 17th in scoring.

Schedule It’s hard to fall back into the pack when you schedule eight home games including three non-conference laughers so the slate is what will likely keep the Hokies afloat. Virginia starts the season at home against 1-AA Northeastern followed by two early ACC games at North Carolina and then at home against Duke. Another non-conference home game against Cincinnati is then followed by a home ACC contest against Georgia Tech. Winnable games against Boston College and Southern Mississippi precede the biggest challenges of the season – a home game against Clemson and a road game at Miami. The end of the season closes with three more easy games against Kent St., Wake Forest and Virginia. Making the schedule even more favorable is that Florida St. is no where to be found.

You can bet on… The Hokies have overachieved in the past and it is very possible that head coach Frank Beamer can will his team once again. Obviously, it all boils down to the success of the offense, namely Glennon and how capable he is of running the show. Put last year’s offensive line in front of him and a lot of the pressure is gone but this year’s version is somewhat disconcerting. Virginia Tech schedules easy wins year in and year out and it gets the job done, going 33-11 ATS since 1995 against non-conference foes. Expect to see more blowouts this year as those out of conference games are not challenging. They are all at home this season where the Hokies are on a 12-5 run against the number as home chalk.

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Matt Fargo is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at www.procappers.com/Matt_Fargo.htm

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