What can I say about the Cavs that you don't already know? Like many of you, at one time I considered UVA as a college option. When I was 11 my father had a job offer at the Boar's Head Inn located about 5 miles away from UVA's campus. The area was so pretty that I had it in my mind that I might want to go to school there one day. (I remind you that my only idea of college at this time was Christopher Newport and Old Dominion University). Soon I started watching college football. I ended up following a QB named Maurice DeShazo. I watched as DeShazo threw 22 touchdowns in 1993 and he sealed my life long love for Hokie football.

Like most of you I planned on Mike London's second season to be as bad as his first. I thought we'd win in another cake walk. I am glad to admit that I was wrong, and that this game actually has meaning. So for this renewed rivalry, I will be grilling up bourbon marinated Tri-Tip kabobs for the game. I wanted something easy before the trip to Charlotte.

Ingredients

Quarterback is the most visible position on the field. They will always get the star treatment; people love to build them up when they succeed, and tear them down if they don't meet expectations. For a sophomore first year starting quarterback, Logan Thomas came into the season with unrealistic, and quite frankly unfair expectations. However, he has emerged from of a rocky start, and has taken ownership of the team.

Hyped Start

The Logan Thomas Hype-O-Meter documented instances of articles that pushed Logan's expectations in the off season. A lot of Hokies thought LT would immediately play like Heisman winner Cam Newton because of their physical similarities. Virginia Tech fans were also spoiled by Tyrod Taylor who performed great the last two years. Last spring, and the clutch pass in the '10 Miami game helped to justify all the Logan hype.

We interrupt your previously scheduled hate week to bring you a little side dish of basketball. The Hokies take on No. 5 Syracuse at the Garden tonight. Here's a preview:

Who: Virginia Tech Hokies (3-0) vs No. 5 Syracuse Orange (4-0)

When: Wednesday, November 23 @ 9:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN2 (Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Doris Burke, Andy Katz)

Where: Madison Square Garden (19,544), New York, NY

The Opponent: After years of failing to reach the world’s greatest arena in the postseason NIT, the Hokies advance to MSG with wins over Monmouth and Florida International in this year’s preseason NIT. The prize? A meeting with one of the best teams in the nation, the Syracuse Orange.

Jim Boeheim’s squad has started off the season at 4-0, easily dispatching of Fordham, Albany, Manhattan, and Colgate, all by at least 24 points. The main reason for the success is the offense, as the Orange has scored 90 points in three of its four games. SU is balanced and obviously has a lot of talent and depth that can cause a lot of problems for their opponents.

Here’s a look at their starting lineup:

I told you the madness would come, but even I didn't realize it would be this damn crazy. It's not done with, either. Two weeks of big games among good, but flawed teams, means more late nights and ever changing BCS game scenarios. I had a dozen legit games to choose from before narrowing down to these 6. My apologies to Notre Dame at Stanford, FSU at Florida, Clemson at South Carolina and others, it was impossible to get them all in.

Sadly #beercontrolfather has a busy week, as I am sure the rest of you do too. The time crunch kept this week's Six Pick brief, but I love this week. It's not because of the short work week, or the turkey, it's because of college football. It's not just any ole week, either it's rivalry or hate week. These games are the most intense between the teams, fans and coaches. Get the meat sweats, drink hard from the bottle and most importantly soak in the passion, the energy and all the HATE. Here's to hoping college football has saved it's the best for last.

Friday, November 25th

3 Arkansas at 1 LSU -12 --Battle for the Golden Boot-- 2:30 pm CBS

First, let me say something to the seniors reading this. I hope you enjoyed watching a win as a student for the last time. My senior night was also a win over UNC -- I have many fun memories from that night, a brief period where I have no memories, then ending with some good memories. OK, enough about me.

A few minutes into the game, I thought to myself, and tweeted, "Why does UNC always play this game like it's their Super Bowl?"

About a minute later, Ryan Houston fumbles, Derrick Hopkins recovers and they show Ryan crying on the sideline. I felt validated. OK, seriously, enough about me. But you get my point, right?

The crazy part is, for some unknown reason, it seemed UNC's intensity caught the guys off guard. We looked flat. (Also, an illegal formation penalty on the first play of the game? How does that happen?)

But what's most important is their short memory and refocus. I was pleased to see them respond in a strong way on offense. Also, when we gave up the second touchdown, did you see how pissed Foster got? I love that.

Lastly, if I'm a UNC fan, I'd be losing my mind about the officiating. However, I'm chalking it up to the ball bouncing our way. With the injuries we've had, I call it even (I know UNC doesn't give a damn, but whatever).

Let's talk about our guys:

1. Antone Exum - Hello, Mr. Exum. I think he gets the game ball on defense. Great display of tackling.

DISCLAIMER: These rankings are not relevant to us unless we beat Virginia and Clemson.

1. LSU 1.000
2. Alabama .949
3. Arkansas .899
4. Oklahoma State .841
5. Virginia Tech .784
6. Stanford .771
7. Boise State .688
8. Houston .668
9. Oklahoma .653
10. Oregon .647

The Hokies are ranked 4th in the Coaches' Poll, 5th in the Harris Poll, and 7th in the computer average.

Please leave any and all scenarios in the comments, no matter how crazy, for how you'd like the season and BCS to play out.

It's hate week, and it's a good one. Virginia beat Florida State in Doak late Saturday night, a venue where they'd previously been 0-8. The Hokies didn't clinch the ACC Coastal, and there'll be a lot of Hoos creeping out of the woodwork. From my observations on Twitter most of you were rooting for Florida State. I was in the minority then. I wasn't actively rooting for Virginia, but I wasn't upset they won. Honestly, I spent most of the game relaxing and cackling on my couch as UVa and FSU each tried to bumble away the game, with FSU ultimately proving to be most futile.

Stereotypically speaking the Hoos and Hokies are polar opposites. Uncultured wild rednecks who take pride in always supporting their football team contrasted against the couth white-collar upper-middle class obsessed with the Director's Cup. We both think we're better than each other, and the hate starts there. However, this week we both have a few things in common. Virginia hasn't won anything, and neither has Virginia Tech, but we both have hope.

I'll be at the game, Box is hosting the live blog, treat him kindly. Go Hokies!

Who: #9/7 Virginia Tech Hokies (9-1, 5-1 ACC) vs North Carolina Tar Heels (6-4, 2-2 ACC)

Time: 8:02 PM

TV Coverage: ESPN (Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, Craig James)

Venue: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA (66,233 – Grass)

Series History: Virginia Tech leads 17-10-6

• Last Meeting (2010): Virginia Tech 26, North Carolina 10
• The Hokies came from behind to knock off the Tar Heels, scoring the final 20 points of the game. Marcus Davis caught two touchdowns and the Hokie defense picked off T.J. Yates four times in the win.
• Since joining the ACC, the Hokies are 6-1 against the Heels, with the lone loss coming two years ago on a Thursday night in Lane Stadium.

Injury Report

• LB Alonzo Tweedy – Doubtful (Ankle)
• P Scott Demler – Doubtful (Back)
• OL David Wang – Out (Foot)

The Opponent: Thursday night in Lane is always a special occasion, but this year being Senior Night makes it even more special. At 7:41 tomorrow night, 17 seniors will be honored for their dedication to Virginia Tech and run out of the tunnel for the final time. It’d be great to see a full house to honor those seniors.

The MADNESS is here and I'm not talking about the Creamsicles either.

The solace I was seeking, the unbeatens falling as the season comes to an end, did not soothe me. It made me want more chaos and more losses, orange & maroon withstanding. It was fun being surrounded by 3 people from Idaho last weekend as we watched Boise's kicker miss a 40-yard field goal that wouldn't have been good from 20. Then over the next 4 hours, I made sure to keep my eyes on LaMichael James as best I could (and better than Stanford) as the Tree took a mighty fall. Welcome to Week 12, those 10 unbeatens a month ago, are now two and half (sorry Houston, blame the C-USA.) Behind them is a pack of 1 losses teams that will be running up the score, in case either unbeaten bows out late. I think the next 3 weeks will more than compensate for the below average October we had to endure.

I don't have the time to do this proper with words, so lets just watch BdozerVT's preseason trailer again before Thursday night lights. I want you to come correct for the seniors, be liquored up and lacquered down.

Thursday, November 17th

North Carolina at 8 Virginia Tech -10.5 8:00 pm ESPN

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill started enrolling students in 1795 and was the first state university in the United States. Since then they have been irrelevant in football. The South's Oldest Rivalry is a game between the Tar Heels and our beloved Hoos. They played for the 116th time this season. Even though we both hate of UVA, I still haven't gotten over the 2009 Thursday night loss. So how do we prepare for another Thursday night game in Blacksburg, one with ACC Championship implications on the line? Well, we get up early, start the grill, and grab the Wild Turkey 101*. Today we are making my favorite food from the state of North Carolina, pulled pork. You can add sauce if you want (North Carolina sauces depending on where you are can be vinegar or tomato based), but man up and eat some pulled pork that can stand on its own. Since I decided to not grill goat I included a quick goat cheese asparagus recipe as a side.

Ingredients

Virginia has done everything to get their uninterested fans interested in their mediocre football program. There has been a TV show, commercials and discounted tickets in Valpak. Now there's this, a video begging UVa students to come back to the grounds for the Commonwealth Cup. A Cavalier loss is expected, but one in front of a pro-Hokie crowd would be worrisome for Mike London, a man passionately selling the Hoo brand of football across the Commonwealth.

As for the video itself, that shit cray.

This is the third version of the video uploaded by the Hoos, the other two have been removed. Some things may have changed.

0:00 - 0:05 Nothing says Thanksgiving football like the slow, soft vocals Skylar Grey delicately massaging my sensitive side.

0:05 - 0:30 Yes, we get it, you beat a ranked Georgia Tech. /round of applause