Wow, two sentence in and I've already wandered off the beaten path. What was I supposed to talk about again?
Oh yea, that game we always win then get a ring from. After this year, when our staff has one hand full of rings, do you think they'll show up next fall with one arm looking like the Terminator, and the other arm looking like Christian Bale in "The Machinist"?
I should start this preview with a confession. As sports fans, a lot of us can be superstitious. We think that if we wear a certain shirt, or drink a certain beer, or whatever before a game, it will be the good luck charm that pushes our team to victory. Well I don't have any rituals that I do before or during every game, but I do have a bit of a streak going on.
I am 0-for-lifetime at Hokie neutral field games. This list includes the '99 National Championship, '05 Sugar Bowl, '05 ACC Championship, '06 Chick-fil-A Bowl, '08 Orange Bowl, '08 Season Opener in Charlotte, '09 Season Opener in Atlanta, and '11 Orange Bowl. And to get to the point, yes, I will be at the game on Saturday. (On the flip side of this, I've been to A LOT more away games, with the only loss I've witnessed was the beatdown at LSU)
So if the Hokies lose to Clemson again (I was also at the first meeting), we can all just blame me.
With the exception of the temperature, this game is almost the exact opposite of the last one. The Hokies are the talk of the town, coming in with a long winning streak, a dynamic young quarterback, and the confidence to go up against almost anyone. The downside to this is it doesn't mean jacksh*t if we are to lose. It won't matter that we'll still be the highest ranked ACC team, or have the best conference record, because we won't be the ACC Champion. *flashbacks of 2005*
Clemson Wins If
1. Uncle Sam Returns
Sammy Watkins is one of, if not the most dynamic freshman in college football this year. It is no coincidence that this losing streak by the Tigers happened at the same time he's been injured. There are a lot more problems during these past four games than what he could have fixed by himself, but he can be a difference maker. In the first game against Tech, he was held to 4 rushing, and 38 receiving yards. The Tigers didn't need him to win that night, but they probably will if they hope to win again this week.
2. Boyd Stops Throwing To The Wrong Team
After starting 6-0, with wins over multiple ranked teams, Tajh Boyd looked like the best kept secret in college football. He had a completion percentage over 60%, and a 11-1 TD:INT ratio. During the losses of the past month, he has thrown 6 interceptions, 5 of which came when the Tigers were losing. With the Hokie offense rolling, it is almost a given they will score more than 3 points this game, and a strong possibility that the Tigers will have to play from behind. Which Boyd will show up with the big game on the line?
3. The Hokies Left All Their Mojo in Charlottesville
The Hokies played their first complete game of the year last Saturday. So while frustrating, it wouldn't be surprising to see a quarter or two of sub-par performance from their offense. We saw what happens when the Hokies play four quarters, and what has happened when they play zero. Clemson needs help outside their own players to win this one, and we'll see on Saturday which Hokie offense shows up.
Virginia Tech Wins If
1. Defense Abuses a Battered Offensive Line
It is almost a nationwide joke about how Jekyll and Hyde Clemson is every year. There will be games when they look like they're a top tier SEC team, and then games when they'd be lucky to beat the Citadel. Usually this problem can be attributed to a bad offensive line. Right now the Tigers have a bad offensive line. Now this has been caused by injuries up front, so unlike other years it isn't completely the team's fault. Fortunately college football doesn't play with a handicap, so they don't get any special treatment for being injury prone. I'm sure Gayle, Hopkins, and company will be more than happy to give their players in the backfield some extra love and attention though.
2. Wilson Sets Records
David "The Jet" Wilson only needs 61 more rushing yards to break Ryan Williams' single season rushing record of 1,655. He also only needs 204 yards to set the ACC single season rushing record of 1,798. The first is likely, while the second is a stretch in this game. If he does run for 200+ yards however, I can all but guarantee a Hokie victory just from that one box score stat. This Clemson defense is 92nd in the country against the run, and gave up 123 yards (but no touchdowns) to DW in the first meeting. Good luck trying to stop him this game.
3. The Lieutenant Keeps His Confidence
I don't need to explain to you fine people how awesome Thomas the Tank Engine is. If you want to watch any of his amazing highlights this year, just pick any game. Except the Clemson game. That was the first game for Logan and the Hokies this year in front of a primetime, national audience. He only had 125 yards passing, and 8 yards rushing if you factor in getting sacked four times. He has admitted openly to the media that he was nervous and not under control that game. Since that game he has been near perfect, and with the past three games being national, spotlight games, there is no reason to believe that this game will do anything to unnerve him.
Score Prediction: Gobblers 35 Tigers 17
H-O-K-I-E-S HOKIES!!!
Follow along on Twitter @UtProsimGobbler
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