Preseason Camp is here, and over on my home forums as I'll call them (The Something Awful Forums), I tend to start the preseason predictions thread. That's expansive to include any posters' teams, given the TKP's Hokie appropriate focus, I figured this would be a good time to start thinking about the schedule and for me to get some perspective on how we think our Hokies will fair against it. I certainly wouldn't dismiss predictions for other teams though and if y'all want to break it out for more than just our Hokies I'm prepped and ready for that.
For my setup (y'all don't have to do it the same way), I'm going to include the preseason rank, schedule, my made up BS chances of our team winning that game, and then a range of final records to reflect; best outcome, expected outcome, worst outcome.
Schedule Example:
Date - Opponent | Expected Outcome | (% chance to win/% chance to lose)
Virginia Tech Hokies
Pre-Season Rank - UNR
Schedule
Aug 30 - William & Mary W (100/0)
Sept 6 - @ Ohio State L (30/70)
Sept 13- East Carolina W (75/25)
Sept 20 - Georgia Tech W (80/20)
Sept 27 - Western Michigan W (100/0)
Oct 4 - @ North Carolina W (50/50)
Oct 16 - @ Pittsburgh L (50/50)
Oct 23 - Miami W (60/40)
Nov 1 - Boston College W (70/30)
Nov 15 - @ Duke W (60/40)
Nov 22 - @ Wake Forest W (90/10)
Nov 28 - Virginia W (100/0)
Dec 6 - ACC Title Game
Best Possible Results | 12-0, 8-0 ACC: As always I believe powered by a top 10 defense the Hokies only need a competent offense to have a shot to run through their ACC schedule undefeated. Ohio State is the only scary out of conference game, and they have a suspect defense and a ton of new faces on offense. It's not inconceivable that early in the season we could pull an upset behind a quality defensive performance like we showed we are capable of against Alabama last season. We dodge FSU, Clemson, and Louisville from the Atlantic. I think this may be a question of addition by subtraction on offense, fresh QB, lots of fresh talent on the Oline and at TE. Add in the experience added in the WR corps, plus some freshman and at least we've got more potential talent waiting than last year. We've had a tough 2 years, but bigger turn arounds have happened.
Expected Results | 10-2, 7-1 ACC: More likely however is that with competent QB play and growth from the offense we are still in a good spot to regain our usual position in the top 15 with a loss at Ohio State and another loss in conference from one of UNC, Pitt, or Duke (ugh how awful would back to back losses to Duke be, really bad). This should put us in a position to play for the ACC Title, and I think we will be much better at running and catching the ball this season than we were last year. Logan Thomas was asked to do too much and it cost us in most of our losses, if the rest of the team can step up and help shoulder the load, whoever the QB is, will be in a better spot to succeed than he was the past 2 years. I wouldn't discount 9-3, 6-2 ACC as a close 2nd option here that I had to debate about. I'd say its a 50/50 split for me between expecting a 10-2/9-3 season which could be entirely optimistic.
Worst Possible Results | 7-5, 5-3 ACC: Let's say the offense isn't any better (entirely possible), and the defense takes time to find it's groove with lots of new starters in the front 7, we could easily lose to OSU, ECU, UNC, Pitt, Duke or Miami. There is the potential for a downward spiral fast if things go wrong early in conference play. We could be better in some spots (WR, TE), but still not have the QB or Oline to make much use of it. A third year without being in contention for the ACC Title, and stuck in some shit mid tier bowl unranked is absolutely on the table. I'm just hoping we can start to get consistent on offense and see more of the Miami game last season and less of the Duke or Maryland games. Give another W OOC and add another loss in conference 4-4 in the ACC isn't too far fetched either.
General Schedule Musings
- GT I feel very confident against because Bud Foster has continued to limit them to fewer and fewer yards each season we play them. Plus we get them at home.
- UNC could finally live up to their billing, or they could again be plagued by inexperience. I consider it a toss up, but I doubt it's a shootout like 2 years ago. Foster will have tricks up his sleeve, and their defense isn't that scary.
- I predicted an L @ Pitt in a toss up game because our track record there is just awful. Especially if we are magically ranked after an upset over OSU or being a solid 5-1 ranked squad going to Pitt. History tells me bad things will happen.
- Miami prb won't have a healthy or quality QB, and after 2 years of playing in South Beach they come to visit us. Fuck em we should win.
- Duke is always a scary game for us, I don't know why. It finally caught up to us last year.
- UVA won't beat us, especially in Lane Stadium. London will be fired after an awful 0-12 campaign. Commonwealth Cup isn't leaving it's home anytime soon.
- I may have grossly undervalued BC, but they don't have Andre Williams to tear us up so they'll have to prove I should be scared of them before I am.
Other Thoughts
- Transfer Michael Brewer I expect to be named the starter maybe as soon as 2 or 3 days into fall camp.
- We will have one of the best secondaries in the country again this year.
- NO STUPID JERSEYS THIS YEAR, ALL MAROON EVERYTHING WILL RETURN.
- Glad to see 2 Thursday night games on the schedule again.
I think looking at the schedule you can justify reasonably anywhere from 11-1 all the way down to 7-5/6-6 as potential outcomes for this season. I feel like our ceiling is high, but unlike years past the floor feels a lot lower. I can't really fathom not being bowl eligible though, but perhaps others will see it more grimly. Just because we've had a couple down years, doesn't change my expectation for what I think the team is capable of. As long as we play in the ACC our chances of finishing with double digit win totals shouldn't either.
I also didn't bother addressing the ACC Title Game as any predictions for that are going to require a little knowledge of the other half of the equation. Have fun with it guys! I look forward to everyone's take on it.
Comments
Really? Even if he happened to earn the job just 2-3 days in, Beamer's not the type of coach to limit the competition of 4 QBs to that short a period of a time.
He's stated repeatedly that he wants to narrow it down quickly and name his guy soon. sure 2 or 3 days may be a stretch but I wouldnt be shocked
He's stated he wants to narrow it down, but not go as far as name a starter. 'Narrow it down' to me means weed out the field, like moving McMillian to WR, announcing an Andrew Ford redshirt, etc (just examples, I don't know what will happen with those guys).
I don't know who posted it, but a poster knows Greg Nosal and rumor is that the coaching staff fully expect Brewer to be the #1 QB. If Brewer plays well in camp early, I can see the coaching staff narrowing it down AND giving Brewer most of the snaps. The sooner a #1 is named the better.
In this case, it means name a starter, the #1 guy, THE guy, ASAP. Lefty doesn't want to be coming into the last week of camp/first week of the season with 2 or 3 guys fighting for the spot. My guess is it'll be after the first full scrimmage.
Brewer was the one who took the first snaps with 1st Offense. I think the job is his until/if he loses it, and I think it will be announced pretty soon. That's based on the talk and snippets distributed by the coaches to the media. There might be competition for the backup spot, but let's not forget - the backup gets very little playing time in Frank's system. I'd be shocked if we didn't start hearing quickly how well Brewer does this or that, and little conversation about any other QB. Like someone else mentioned, it's unusual to bring in a RS Jr QB who was a starter elsewhere to just be a backup to some unheralded frosh or soph.
By "Frank's System" do you mean playing to the level of our competition and not getting a comfortable lead?
Meant more that was as fast as I think it could happen, not that it would. I don't see that Loeffler and Beamer would have taken a transfer QB if at least Lefty didn't think he was likely to win the job. It's so unlike Beamer to take transfers/look to recruit them, that if Loeffler felt he was that good to get in here on top of the recruits he landed he has a plan for him. No sense wasting time about it, which is why I think it'll happen fast so he can start getting as many reps as possible with the eventual first team O.
Meh, I'll play:
Aug 30 - William & Mary W
Sept 6 - @ Ohio State L
Sept 13- East Carolina W
Sept 20 - Georgia Tech W
Sept 27 - Western Michigan W
Oct 4 - @ North Carolina L
Oct 16 - @ Pittsburgh W
Oct 23 - Miami W
Nov 1 - Boston College W
Nov 15 - @ Duke W
Nov 22 - @ Wake Forest W
Nov 28 - Virginia W
Dec 6 - ACCCG vs. FSU L
Dec 31- Peach Bowl (at-large) vs. USCe (at-large) W
Overall: 11-3 (7-2 in ACC)
This seems reasonable, I'm more worried about ECU than I am UNC though.
UNC is the 2nd hardest game on the schedule to me
True it was a tough out last year, we never really separated till the 4th quarter. Do you believe the hype?(Serious question.) I thought the loss of Ebron would be big.
EDIT: Totally overlooked the fact we're at UNC this year. Yeah considered me worried now.
I unfortunately believe the hype this year. This would be the 3rd year in that Fedora offense and I believe it could be potent w/ the talent they've build up on O. They have some weapons beyond Ebron, I think Switzer will make more of an impact and that 5 star RB Elijah Hood has apparently already impressed. There will be a common opponent in ECU before UNC plays VT. A plus is that UNC might be bruised up from playing Clemson's D the week before they play VT. This being an away game has me worried too.
With the way UNC has been recruiting it feels like UNC is the biggest threat as a program to VT. VT needs to show they are consistently better on the field.
I saw Hood play for the Shriner Bowl and he looked like a prime, Grade A Division 1 RB.
I'd like to see our D Tackles before I post a W for the GT game. The Hokies may really miss Hopkins this year.
After watching Corey Marshall this spring, Nigel Williams last year, and Ricky Walkers' tape, I'm not too worried. Yes ManBearPig was a great DT at Tech but I think we'll be okay
Not to mention Kyle Fuller playing like Troy Polamalu (before he got old and injured)
It's sad as a Steelers fan watching him come back to only play 4-6 games a year now. Injuries have just always been a problem with him.
Why? I've seen a lot of people pumping up ECU lately and I'm not sure I get it. Curious what your reasoning is? From my perspective, they are typically a solid mid major program that is gonna sniff their league championship in most years and make a lower level bowl game. Their occasional win against a "BCS" team doesn't mean they'd be competitive on week in/week out schedule even in a mediocre conference like the ACC. Consider their record against BCS teams in the past 10 years. 9 wins. 25 losses. On average, that's less than a win per year. Except for wins against VT and WVU a few years back, their wins were largely against perennially bottom of the barrel BCS teams like LOLUVA and Duke (last year exception) and teams that were pathetic at the time (NCSU).
UNC is the greater threat. One, they have better talent, coaching, and another years experience in that system. Two, they are in our division.
Or maybe you just meant that we'll be recovering from the OSU game and could be unfocused for the ECU game.
I had typed out a long response to this and then accidentally closed the tab so here is the short version.
ECU will always be a threat
1. Lose-Lose situation, ECU is an upper echelon mid major program whose season can be defined by a win against a team like VT. We are expected to beat them as one of our easier games.
2. Ruffin McNeill has a system designed to score points and catch good teams off guard. Combine that with an already upset minded mid-major looking for respect and they are troubling.
3. Example of above, they beat UNC 55-31 last year, in embarrassing fashion.
4. Even when they win 10 games, like last season, people still cite them as weak OOC scheduling. Even if they are wrong, that is still how it is perceived.
I don't think we will lose to them, but these are issues that make ECU an uncomfortable opponent year in and year out.
Well, all that and ECU now considers us a rival, and have enough in-game experience against us to be a rival. Which is why you should never, ever schedule a long series with a team that is in a conference or division that isn't at your same level. The underdog always gets an advantage the longer a series plays out because the coaching staff will understand their opponents better. Its why rivalry games are always good. The teams just know each other. And if you get one where one team is just at a completely different prestige level than another, you're going to have one team always gunning for a win with everything they have while the other team treats it like a warm-up to their main schedule. Its an absolute lose-lose for VT, and its a series that needs to be dropped ASAP. We have very little to gain from playing ECU this many times and we have a whole heck of a lot to lose.
Agree , ECU is always a no win proposition for Us. However , because of poor scheduling by Weaver we must play them for the next 50 years. 9-3 lose acc title game.
If this happened, I would be so happy. But I think it is a bit optimistic.
Way too early and somewhat optimistic prediction. I'm thinking with the easier schedule that VT goes 9-3 in regular season.
Aug 30 - William & Mary W
Sept 6 - @ Ohio State L -- Closer than the experts think
Sept 13- East Carolina W
Sept 20 - Georgia Tech W
Sept 27 - Western Michigan W
Oct 4 - @ North Carolina L -- Feel like UNC has a good season this year
Oct 16 - @ Pittsburgh L -- B/c VT is cursed at Pitt and VT has small D front against their run game
Oct 23 - Miami W -- Thursday night in Blacksburg gets season back on track
Nov 1 - Boston College W
Nov 15 - @ Duke W -- Will be a half VT crowd
Nov 22 - @ Wake Forest W
Nov 28 - Virginia W
Dec 6 - ACCG = FSU over UNC
Bowl Game = Capital One Bowl vs UGA --- Please let's get a rematch from the 2006 Chick Fil-A Bowl!!
so help me god, if we lose at pitt again...
Don't feel like putting the dates.
Bill&Mary: W
@anOSU: L
ECU: W
GT: W
WM: W
GT: W
@UNC: L
@Pitt: L
Miami: W
BC: W
@Duke: W
@Wake: W
LOLUVA: W
Reasons:
W&M: FCS
anOSU: Simple a better team, they have gone 2 season without losing in the regular season.
ECU: I think both teams improve from last year, which means we still win.
GT: They lost a lot of guys, we have Bud.
WM: Not good.
UNC: I believe the hype, I think they are a good team. Love watching that offense.
Pitt: We suck against Pitt, at Pitt. I think this is our worst showing of the season.
Miami: Miami is going through a lot of problems too, that D sucks. Only major advantage? Duke Johnson. Stud
BC: No Andre, but their new QB could be good. A tough match I think, but one we win.
Duke: Revenge is sweet. I don't buy into the Duke hype, lucky against us. Not this time.
Wake: Home away from home at that stadium, they aren't good.
LOLUVA: No explanation needed.
9-3 record. No idea how the other teams in the coastal do, but 6-2 would probably win it.
I completely agree with your predictions. I also think duke did have a bit of luck that won't be nearly as strong this year.
I heard on the radio that Vegas set the over/under for wins at 8.5. I have to say that's a damn good number, because without going game by game, I'd say we could realistically be at 8 or 9 wins. So I'd be too scared to bet.
Vegas set UVA's over/under at 3.5. I would take the under in a heartbeat.
I read this site every day. I never post cause the only person who cares about my opinion is me. I honestly never went to school at VT or any other college for that matter but I would if given the chance. So if my grammar sukz i apologize! I will play this little game however. Here'goes!
Aug 30 - William & Mary W
Sept 6 - @ Ohio State W
Sept 13- East Carolina W
Sept 20 - Georgia Tech W
Sept 27 - Western Michigan W
Oct 4 - @ North Carolina W
Oct 16 - @ Pittsburgh W
Oct 23 - Miami W
Nov 1 - Boston College W
Nov 15 - @ Duke W
Nov 22 - @ Wake Forest W
Nov 28 - Virginia W
Dec 6 - ACCCG vs. FSU W
Round 1 Playoff: VT vs. ? W
Championship Game: VT vs. ? W
VT gets an invite to play in the Superbowl after laying waste to the entire east coast and play the Seahawks and Bam Bam comes out and rips off his Seattle Jersey A la Hulk Hogan to reveal a VT jersey. Then we proceed to demolish Russel Wilson like he still played for the Wolf Pack. BUT- instead of a trophy they hand Beamer the Holy Grail filled with whatever was in the suit case in Pulp Fiction. THEN my woman who is a student at Alabama but roots for VT cause shes afraid not to gives me all her SEC tuition money to go to school at VT for 1 day and then I die in my sleep that night. The end.
Reasons: Cause I'm a competitor. I believe NO ONE can beat me until someone makes me quit and I feel that way about VT football. I don't think a single team we play SHOULD beat us. They may.. but till they do I won't admit to it. Call that Southwest Virginia logic. This is FUN!!! GO HOKIES!
1) Welcome +1
2) being an alumni does not make a Hokie. Any fan of VT is a Hokie and welcome to the TKP community, or any VT community in my view
3) you and I think the same way. Any given Saturday is a new day and possibility for a win. Meaning we can conceivably win every game.
4) VT to Superbowl would cause TKP to literally explode (in a virtual world way) bringing about the fall of the interwebs and a pre-industrial age apocalyptic world where college football turns into Thunderdome style sport.
5) your reasons: Fuck yeah! That's not just SW Virginia logic that's Hokie logic (or should be).
Oh my bad grammar nazi. Something you would like to correct?
nah you're cool. Your post just made me think of this and, per the rules of the internet, I had to post it as a comment
fair enough, have a leg
Did somebody say Grammar Nazi?
Leg for you because of your dedication to TKP AND the Hokies. Never think only alums can be Hokie fans. Lots on here might not be, for example. I don't really know, because to me what matters is your allegiance to Hokie sports, not if you have a certain piece of paper on your wall. Some of the most faithful Hokie fans I know are Emory&Henry grads, and ODU grads, and JMU grads. I even know one diehard Hokie fan who is an UGa grad. Why? Just because he likes what being a Hokie means. SO - never think your opinion doesn't count. Whether it fits the masses doesn't matter, I'd encourage you to voice it anyway. The more thoughtful discussion, the better! Again, welcome!
Go Wasps!!!!!!!!
As you come south on either I-81 or Rt 11 when you near Christiansburg, you'll see large VT's displayed alongside the road. They're placed there by E&H grads who are die hard Hokies.
Are you talking about the VT in the field near Christiansburg coming up the mountain? I love that thing. Always welcoming as I head to Blacksburg. I hate that the wind blows it over a few times a year. I keep thinking that it should be bigger and anchored in Hokiestone at the bottom, and I would donate to make it so.
Had I not been kicked out of JMU the spring(99) before
Michael Vick happened…
This was probably one of the best first posts I've ever read
You'll fit in well here. +1 and welcome!
Man, what an entrance...
The good news is that you had a Kanye-ripping-the-mic-away best first post of all time.
The bad news (for you) is that now we expect every one of your posts to be this awesome.
Glad you posted, Road Dog!
I imagine you have been sitting at the computer for 7 straight months (which would put you exactly at the end of the football season if I am not mistaken!?!) waiting and plotting for this one moment! Like a butterfly finally out of the cocoon.
YES! As a Hokie and Seahawk fan this scenario would completely make my head explode.
Someone certainly knows how to make an entrance!
They Live! +1
That may be the best TKP entrance evah.
Makes me feel
Here is an artists rendering of your first post:
Well said sir!
Upvote because sports.
You sir are a gentleman of fine fettle. Welcome to TKP
I appreciate all the kind words of encouragement. I was going to post a pic but I can't figure it out. I'll work on it and get back to you.
right click on any image/gif you like. click "inspect element". Crtl C outta that shit. Then Crt V into the TKP text box. and bingo, now go forth and converse in imagery, gifs and memes
Do you use the camera or just straight into the text box? I am less than computer savvy.
Use the camera.
Alright, well here goes nothing.
If you are finding pictures with Google, you can click on the picture and when it gives you the choice of "View page" or "View image", click on "View image". When it opens as a web page with just the picture, copy the url.
On the TKP posting page, click the camera and paste the url in the top box "Image URL". I usually throw a one or two word discription in the last box "Alternative text" as well. Click "OK".
If you are using fernleyhokies' method, just paste the code into the text box without using the camera.
yep, I paste the copied line straight into the text box. cuts out the middle man
Having been so used to using BB Code for forums posts, I wasn't sure how to work this, but thanks to this train in here I was able to present my post as I originally intended with all its Fightin' Gobbler glory.
You know the players read this forum and how do you think it makes these young men feel seeing all these posts about how and why VT will lose to the likes of Pitt and Duke? I honestly don't think we will lose any of those ACC games and I feel confident we will take anOSU behind the wood shed and BLISTER THAT B1G 10 ASS!
P.S. It bothers me when people call our players "Kids". When they are in high school it doesn't bother me as much. When referring to an 18-24 year old I prefer young man. If i was face to face with Wyatt Teller or Parker O. I wouldn't DARE call those men "kids". Just my opinion.
P.S.S.... I am by no means scolding or bitching at anyone who has or will in the future call our players "kids". I just wont be doing it any time soon.
I would think that the players might be more aware those are crucial games and they need to amp up their efforts as such. If we're to only post cheerleading type 'We're going 12-0 before winning the national championship!...' comments, that is just unrealistic. That's also the type of complacency that leads to losses to JMU. I think the players are 'men' enough to handle the knowledge that not everyone in Hokie Nation thinks they will sweep the season. If they're not able to handle that, then they should focus more on practice and preparation, and less on internet message boards. I believe their psyches are resilient enough to handle what is said on here though, as it is overwhelmingly positive, yet also realistic as well.
I'm pretty sure with the recent explosion of posters, comments, and articles our players don't have the time to keep up with our opinions, especially since practice has started.
But, at what point does it stop being motivation and become a mental road block? People say they "can't" beat this team or that team, hell... (our fans don't even thank we can) mentality. You'll never accomplish anything unless you yourself believe you can.
If a player has a 'mental block' because some people on the internet don't think his team can beat a Top 5 team, then it seems like the player has an extremely fragile psyche. One that would be just as crushed if the first offensive drive resulted in a pick or a fumble. If we're to be confident in our players, then we should be just as confident in their mental toughness. Otherwise, we should also discourage them from reading any print/digital media, as well as NEVER watching ESPN until Jan 6th. See? It is up to the player to be self-motivated, and that requires mental toughness. Sooo... somebody on here saying they'll 'only' go 11-1 in the regular season would NOT be crushing to a mentally tough player who is self-motivated. They'll be just fine, regardless of what is said on the internet.
+1 for you sir! You make valid points. In the world it is impractical to say you WILL do everything. However it is practical to say you CAN do anything. That is my point. I'm not cheer leading to the point of telling them they WILL go 12-0 but they CAN if they work hard enough.
Back atcha. We agree that you need to begin with the ultimate goal, then adjust if you must, but reach for the stars.
To your "kids" point, just remember there are people on here that are old enough to be their parents/grandparents and "kids" isn't anything derogatory or anything. Hell CFB and Wiles call the players kids all the time.
I agree with you 100% that is most certainly is NOT meant as a derogatory sentiment. However, It bugs me when the coaches do it to be honest. Like I said before, "Kids" is a term used for high school football players and I think I can speak for just about every other male counterpart that when we were that age we wanted to be treated like "Men" and not a "Kid". Heck, I tell my son every day he is becoming a fine "young man" and he glows every time. He is 9......
Guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I think it's part of the family feel that Tech brings and that CFB, Wiles, etc view them as being part of the family. I'm sure they are treated like "kids" meaning a member of the family, not "kids" like go to timeout for hitting your brother/sister.
With my job I get alot of 18-25 year old guys who are trying to enter the work force thru our apprenticeship. It is my job to train these young men how to do the job and how to present themselves in a professional manner. During this time teaching (I'm 34 BTW and have been teaching since I was 23) I have found that talking to younger boys with a sense of respect and "You can do it if you put your mind to it!" gets better results then being the least bit negative. This attitude has carried over into my love for all things Hokie!. Like I tell my apprentices, "I can do anything, I just haven't done it yet."... = D
Don't get me wrong, When it comes time for tough love it gets dished out on a cold dish of WTF!. But how many players do we have who went to the sugar bowl when Danny Coale caught that pass? This is a new team who should not carry the burden of the past upon them. Full Steam Ahead! Go Hokies!
Ahem! NO MORE LOSING TO DOOK! That is all.
Aug 30 - William & Mary W
Sept 6 - @ Ohio State L
Sept 13- East Carolina W
Sept 20 - Georgia Tech W
Sept 27 - Western Michigan W
Oct 4 - @ North Carolina W
Oct 16 - @ Pittsburgh L
Oct 23 - Miami W
Nov 1 - Boston College W
Nov 15 - @ Duke W
Nov 22 - @ Wake Forest W
Nov 28 - Virginia W
Dec 6 - ACCCG vs. FSU L
Dec 31- Orange Bowl vs Baylor - W
Notes: The Ohio State game will not be pretty for us. I see this as a double digit loss that really isn't as close as the score indicates. Too much to ask of a young team breaking in a new QB in Week 2. Thankfully, every other game on the remainder of the schedule should be winnable for us. I am not buying into the UNC hype. Yes, they finished last year on a winning streak, but it was against some of the weakest competition you'll find in FBS scheduling. Too many people are ignoring the quality of their opponents and only focusing on the wins. The fact remains, we saw UNC last year with Ebron, and we shut them down. Now, they don't have Ebron, they have a wildly inconsistent QB (good luck against our secondary)... Yes, the game is at UNC, but I just don't see us losing. I do, however, see us continuing the trend of WHAT THE FLYING F games against Pitt at Pitt, because its Pitt, and I hate Pitt, but they have beaten us there so many times in the past that I am never picking us to win there ever again... Just because. We take the anger from that loss and mow down Miami and BC at home rather easily, then go into Duke in front of a surprisingly rabid pro-Hokie crowd (tailgate (including tickets) on sale now at 2014 VT vs Duke Tailgate & Tickets ) and avenge the unfathomable from 2013 and maul them a new one, finishing with very easy wins against Wake and UVa. ACC title game time, and wouldn't you know it, our defense is a quality matchup for FSU, and we keep it close for 3 quarters before momentum carries the Nolies through to the playoffs. Oh well, we take our consolation to the Orange Bowl and show the world we're back and badder than ever by taking care of business against Baylor.
Final Record - 11-3
Final Ranking - #14
I see your notes on the OSU game, but I have to go with a caveat. This will be a VT win.
Granted, this is based on three assumptions...our special teams isn't as bad as it was against Alabama last year, our defense gets back to it's scoring ways, and our offense is able to run a bit and keep the OSU offense off the field for longer than several 3 and outs.
While it is a lot of pressure to put on a young offense, mark my words, this will be the beginning...
I think ECU is one of the toughest games on the schedule. Classic trap game... ECU ALWAYS plays tough against us, and we either come off a tough loss or one of the best wins in our programs history.... I see a good chance of us having 7-8 wins with the best chance of losses to: OSU, ECU, UNC, PITT, Miami (in order from toughest to least)
Agree that ECU and Shane Carden are no joke this year! I believe a certain purple pirate beat a certain tarheel last year in the sport of footballs.
I have been looking for this comment from the get go. ECU has the potential to be very dangerous... JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER YEAR WE PLAY THEM. I don't know that we've ever covered the spread against them, and that's because they're a tough team. Spurrier came out and said recently that he thinks they're stronger than the lowest 5 teams in the BIG 10, and I agree. I would put them above the lowest 5 teams in every P5 conference. I would say ECU, UNC and Pitt all have the same level of confidence from me, and that is not much.
The Ohio State game is the one that intrigues me the most. We all know our $EC issues; since 2005 we are 1-5 against $EC teams. But, let's face it: IT WAS A CATCH! WE are 1-0* against the B1G. Braxton Miller has to answer the big question this season...is he playing for the Scarlet & Grey or is playing for the other team. Our Defensive backfield could very well be the BEST one he sees all year. And if history holds, we could wreak havoc on their air attack. (And he's coming off shoulder surgery...) They are replacing Hyde at RB too. I see it either as a complete game by OSU, where they win by 3 td's or we squeak one out late in the game.
Aug 30 - William & Mary W
Sept 6 - @ Ohio State L
Sept 13- East Carolina W
Sept 20 - Georgia Tech W
Sept 27 - Western Michigan W
Oct 4 - @ North Carolina W
Oct 16 - @ Pittsburgh W
Oct 23 - Miami W
Nov 1 - Boston College L
Nov 15 - @ Duke W
Nov 22 - @ Wake Forest W
Nov 28 - Virginia W
Dec 6 - ACCCG vs. FSU L
Dec 31- Orange Bowl vs whomever - 50/50 because for whatever reason we blow on the big stage.
I cannot in all good faith pick Pitt to beat us. I know it's there but after this last years trashing of their offensive by one Dadi Nicols I can't see them beating us. The last time we played there they had two very good backs. Both of them are gone. I see us winning that one. I'll accept a loss to UNC, even though I don't want to, just because I don't see us going undefeated in the regular season. But I think we win that one. But that will be close as they have a tough game before us and after us. I think BC may be a loss though as they beat us last year and they are supposed to have a decent QB this year. They always play us tough.
Truth be told though in my orange and maroon glasses I see us winning every game minus OSU and against FSU in the ACCCG. It's too early in the season for me to be picking other teams who are NOT better teams or programs than us to win. So screw it. W's across the board except OSU and ACCCG against FSU. If it aint FSU in the ACCCG then 50/50 against Clemson, anyone else we win.
While Fantastic Frank and the Boys have handled GT just fine in the Techmo Bowl historically (4 in a row, 8-3 all time), still can't take them lightly. 5 of the last 6 matchups have been decided by 7 points or fewer. Wouldn't say it's a coin flip game (especially since it's at Lane) but I probably wouldn't go above 60/40 in my confidence there.
I've been to every GT/VT game in Lane since we joined the ACC...And I decided that for my health, I can't take it anymore. Too many close games. So I'm skipping it this year.
You're absolutely right. Then again it seems almost every game we play these days is close and thus bad for your health.
I understand the worrying for the Pitt game by everyone based on our terrible history playing against them in Pitt, but I cant help but go back and see that they lose their Qb Tom Savage, one of their top Wrs in Devon Street (I know kyshoen remembers him well) and a first round draft pick in Aaron Donald. I just don't see that team beating us even though they do have Tyler Boyd returning (we got Kendall fuller still as I remember). I see our season going like this
W&M- W
Osu- L (it'll be close for awhile but eventually Braxton will break loose some long runs)
Ecu- W
Gt- W
W. Mich- W
Unc- W
Pitt- W
Miami- W (all Maroon everything we can't lose)
Bc- W
Duke- W
Wake- W
Uva- W
Even though I believe we should be favorited in every game besides tOsu and maybe Unc I could still easily see us drop a couple of those games to Unc, Miami or Pitt just because we seem to do that these last couple of years
or our defensive line manhandles Braxton and he starts breaking loose in the runs every time he sees them coming...
For some reason our D struggles with mobile QBs. Hopefully, it won't be that way vs OSU
At least last year, from what I saw, it's because of over-pursuit. Instead of keeping lanes blocked, the mobile QB gets charged just like non-mobile QBs, so when the mobile QB is able to make the player miss, now there's a hole to run through.
Might be simplifying it a bit...
Depends on Brewer. If he plays well, we're looking at a 9 win season. If he plays 'meh' but stays healthy, we're looking at a 7 win season. If he gets hurt or benched and we have to play someone else, we're looking at 5 win season.
Ohio State's first game is also against Navy. They'll have to prepare for the triple option: which will give them less time to prepare for us.
Maybe we should invest some time in developing the quadruple option...
Until we show something different, you really don't have to prepare for us offensively.
When I look at the schedule I immediately think 10-2 for the regular season. With the losses coming to tOSU and UNC. I know these are the trendy picks, but that UNC game two years ago still gives me nightmares.
However, when I think back on how the last two seasons have gone with some of the late game turnovers and mistakes that have been made, as well as the youth on this football team (look at the infographic posted in the forum) I think more along the lines of 8-4 to 9-3.
The goal this year is to make it to the ACCCG, if this team can do that and pull out a win in a fairly prestigious bowl matchup this season will be a huge success and will make this youth movement turn more into a frenzied Virginia Tech assault on the ACC and hopefully the traditional national powers over the next few seasons.
Unfortunately still way to many questoins for me everywhere from under center to the front 7. I would say 7-5 with losses to *, UNC, Pitt and Dookies with the final being our annual no way in hell we should loose but someone how we manage to loose unexpected game. I hope to be pleasently surprised but the last few seasons and our lack of proven depth and injuries just leave me a doubting Hokie...
you really have that much confidence in duke this year? I mean last year it took a missed field goal an INT in the endzone and three more INT's for them to win. We still had a chance toward the end of the game and they only beat us by like 3 or something. They don't get that lucky again this year.
Not so much confidence in the Dookies as they have played us really tough for the last few years and last year they finally god us. Granted their 2nd qb is gone but they have a great coach and are starting to attract more and more talent. I think my guesses are more worr yabout our team than confidence in others but we shall see...
Anything less than 9-3 before the ACC Championship game will be a surprise and disappointment to me. The only teams I can see us possibly losing to is OSU, UNC, and MAYBE Pitt, only because we play like shit against them no matter if its home or away. I also wouldnt be surprised at a 11-1 or even 12-0 season. If our defense plays like it usually does and Micheal Brewer is as good/confortable as they say he has looked, then I don't see why not. Easier said than done, but fuck it, GO HOKIES!
Aug 30 - William & Mary W
Sept 6 - @ Ohio State L
Sept 13- East Carolina L
Sept 20 - Georgia Tech W
Sept 27 - Western Michigan W
Oct 4 - @ North Carolina L
Oct 16 - @ Pittsburgh W
Oct 23 - Miami W
Nov 1 - Boston College W
Nov 15 - @ Duke W
Nov 22 - @ Wake Forest W
Nov 28 - Virginia W
Dec 6 - ACCCG vs. FSU L
Russell Athletic Bowl vs Texas W
The ECU game really scares me this year. It's always a tough out and they are about due for the upset this season. I can honestly see us beating OSU and then losing to ECU the next week as it would be the most VT thing ever. Bud has GT's number and I think we right the ship against GT and WMU before the tough 3 game stretch. I think its a toss up as to whether we lose to UNC or Pitt but I do not see us losing both. I know history @Pitt has not been kind to us but i think the extra couple of days rest will help and I don't think they will draw much of a Thursday night crowd there.
Assuming FSU makes it into the Playoffs, we may be able to sneak into the Orange Bowl at 9-4, but I think Louisville as a newcomer would be more attractive than us with a similar record and I just like the chance at playing the Big 12 in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
I will be happy with anything above 7-5 in the regular season. I want us to go 12-0, but see potential problems at OSU, ECU, Pitt, Miami, and potentially even Duke. I think Foster has figured out GT and the talent level there appears to go down the longer CPJ is there.
I'm not drinking that unc kool-aide that everyone has had. Yes, they will be good, but the games they won last year was against the weaker teams on the schedule. And their defense is questionable. Honestly, I think we have a great shot to win every game on the schedule. We might not win all of them, but I don't think there's going to be a game where the outcome is all but decided.
I don't want to pick a number cause you never know, but I think we will get back to our winning ways.
Go Hokies!
The eternal VT football optimist in me:
Aug 30 - William & Mary W
Sept 6 - @ Ohio State W
Sept 13- East Carolina W
Sept 20 - Georgia Tech W
Sept 27 - Western Michigan W
Oct 4 - @ North Carolina W
Oct 16 - @ Pittsburgh W
Oct 23 - Miami W
Nov 1 - Boston College W
Nov 15 - @ Duke W
Nov 22 - @ Wake Forest W
Nov 28 - Virginia W
Dec 6 - ACC Title Game L vs FSU
Then Fsu goes to the playoff and we play in the orange bowl.
My reasoning behind the OSU pick. I see OSU as a dangerous team but when we play against dangerous teams early in the season they are always close tough battles. Hell VT should have beaten Bama if we had WRs who could catch and competent special teams. Now i don't believe in UNC as they have a good O but the D is still suspect. The game most people are taking lightly is the miami game. This year if healthy Miami had Duke Johnson back and he is a very dangerous running threat that scares me more then Braxton Miller. Even with that in Bud i trust so I believe we will be in every game and somehow pull all of them out. Maybe its hope for a better FG kicker, a stud Defense again and a decent run and pass game that makes me believe that we can run through the regular season schedule undefeated.