Recent Comments

Thanks for getting the ball rolling, and welcome!

I am not really sure why people are overlooking this scenario when discussing our SOS; in my opinion it's our ace up our sleeves. An undefeated ACCCG matchup between VT-FSU would be collossal and I think the winner goes to the title.

Emotionally the ACC has left a bad taste in people's mouth's for so long I can understand to a point the knee-jerk reaction to leaving the conference out of the title discussion, or at least the motivation to look at ways that VT would actually go with this years SOS. But logically you can thank the lofty pre-season expectations of Oklahoma and Florida State and the fact that one of them is going to win over the other for setting this undeniable scenario up.

A late addition, I saw it this morning.

Even if the players at Miami buy into the system the program is going to drop off unless Golden can recruit big going forward and in the meantime can be adept at recognizing and developing under-the-radar talent. The recent transfers, suspensions, sub-par recruiting class, Forcier and black eyes will leave Miami in a pretty big hole after this season.

I hope Golden is able to dig the 'Canes out, so they're at least standing on solid ground, but not walking on water like ten+ years ago. Not only for the good of the conference, but primarily because the gate is open and FSU is able to walk into their backyard. (Compound that with Florida's slight drop off and they're loading up.) Without a balance of power in Florida, it will make it harder, but definitely not impossible, for us to continue running the ACC. I think Beamer Co. saw the writing on the wall, in more ways than one, and knew he had to adjust to stay ahead of the game.

And, this needed to happen eventually.

Totally agree on all points about ACC/Pac-12 argument. The Orange Bowl Stanford blow-out/embarrassment is going to kill any hope if it comes down to an undefeated ACC team (particularly Virginia Tech and minus FSU due to preseason hype and big bowl win against an SEC Division Champion last year- shows they can beat a top three SEC team which Oregon could not do (though South Carolina was no Auburn as the SECCG showed)) and an undefeated Pac-12 team. A resounding BCS bowl loss such as that stays in the minds of people for a while, particularly a team who was undefeated in Conference play as VT and blew through the schedule and Conference Championship Game a year ago

Though I obviously would love to see VT play in the NCG (and think it is an OUTSIDE possibility) I just don't think it will happen this year even if we go undefeated. I think, even with the two representatives starting so far down the ranking totem poll last year, we won't have enough quality wins against top 25 teams (let alone any top 10 wins- probably only one opportunity against FSU- hope UM beats OSU but even with all the suspensions I think Miami will find a way to lose that game) and will start too low in preseason top 25- a ton of upsets had to occur last year for Auburn and Oregon (who started #11 last year- needed a ton of help to get to #1/#2) to get to the NCG...upsets I don't see happening again this year.

My prediction is 12-2, ACC Coastal Champions, BCS At Large (Sugar Bowl- depending on SEC/Pac-12 results) or Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Two losses, as I said in other posts, are toss ups but I will take a shot in the dark: UNC (on my birthday...usually lose those minus in '07 against UM) and FSU in ACCCG. Don't see us losing to Miami or GT- new qb/rb at GT and it will take the Canes a year to buy into the new system brought in by Al Golden and 'attitude.' Apparently, everyone has not totally bought in due to an arrest or two already this off-season. BC will pose a huge threat but that will be a measuring stick game as it usually is and UVA should be, though tougher than in years past, another 'w'. I also agree with people about Clemson- I think they're getting waaaaay too much hype for a new QB and a totally new offensive scheme. That will take at least a year to become one hundred percent effective especially with personnel recruited for another type of slower paced offense. Dabo is a hell of a coach though and I'm sure it will work out for them in the future. I also think Duke will be a tougher game than normally just because the last couple we've gotten some serious fits from their offense.

That would be Oregon beating LSU in essentially an away game in Arlington, TX then beating Stanford and Arizona in away games later in the season as well as the Pac-12 championship game. Add in the factor that Oregon gets a higher profile/bullhorn because of Phil Knight then I think Oregon would definitely get in over VT in the championship game.

In addition to revealing Willenbrock's commitment, Rivals.com also mentioned Tech commitment Donaldven Manning is strongly considering Miami. Manning, a 5-10, 163-pound cornerback who was the second recruit for the '12 class to commit in February to Tech, is being referred to as a soft commitment to the Hokies.

http://weblogs.dailypress.com/sports/college/accblog/2011/05/virginia_te...

Why's Manning eyeing Miami? I know when Tennessee came calling he told them he was solid on Tech.

Really, we need to pull for Miami, FSU, and UNC to have good years. Maybe an outside chance that GT is ranked but honestly, I think the PJ ship has sailed. He's going to struggle to recruit talent to that system.

The only thing we can do is win and then play it out with FSU (really, couldn't have an easier path in the Atlantic) in December. I'm not as sold on FSU as others... while I think they will have a really good team, I don't think they are capable of knocking off OU. OU is stacked and we got to hope everyone between OU and us loses.

The big thing in this hypothetical national title run is that we have to root hard for FSU to be undefeated which would make them the #2 team in the country in the ACCCG game with wins against Oklahoma and Florida. If FSU is undefeated it means Oklahoma isn't. If we are undefeated going into the ACC title game we should be top 5 with the premise that Miami, BC, and UNC were ranked when we played them and there aren't more than 5 undefeated teams.

We would have to hope that a top 5 team beating the #2 team in the country in the last prime time game of the season would rise VT up to #2.

Quick look at top 7 each of them have a game against a fellow top 7 team like Oregon plays LSU and FSU vs. Oklahoma then of course conference matchups. A lot of teams ahead of us matchup against each other.

I really don't know what the metrics would be on the percentages. I kind of looked at it a game at a time and just added the assumption of no major injures which is a huge assumption. The schedule projection of course was supposed to be hypothetical if everything worked out right for VT. Feel like its subjective but see your percentages as slightly conservative but definitely realistic. I've never really thought about the best method to get percentage probability of a team going undefeated, how did you come up with your numbers?

For BC on their schedule with that defense I like them a lot higher than 8% undefeated before VT considering who the play but also I think Clemson is going to be pretty bad and BC could will have big improvement. If they get past central Florida as they should I think they are undefeated for VT.

I like FSU a ton this year if they get past Oklahoma and do think they most likely win the ACC as everyone else does think. With Florida and Oklahoma on the schedule I could see that percentage but would put it higher.

I think your percentage of Miami is pretty spot on. Really don't know what type of Miami team it will be until they play Maryland. I think Miami if they focus on running behind their massive oline and avoid Princess Jacory throwing interceptions they can beat a weakened Ohio State team. I could see VT potentially losing to Miami this year especially if depth at DT doesn't develop quickly with VT probably needing a true freshman to be able to contribute at the interior of the DL.

Really interesting post.

If I may add some thoughts.

moore isn't to be swayed.