#3, Alabama vs. Virginia Tech. The Most Anticipated College Football Games of 2009!

by anshey on Jul 15, 2009 11:23 AM EDT in Football Comment 0 comments

The Most Anticipated College Football Games of 2009: #3, Alabama vs. Virginia Tech

Location:
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
September 5th, 2009
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST

Why to watch:
This is going to be a great one, and it ends up at #3 on our top 25. Virginia Tech is a defensive machine, and Beamer Ball's special teams is alive and well in Blacksburg. Nick Saban has awoken the ghosts of Bama's past, bringing the Crimson Tide back into the spotlight. Both of these teams have serious national title aspirations, are consensus pre-season top 10 teams, and both want to use this game as a spring board for the rest of the season. While last years kickoff featured Bama destroying an overrated Clemson, I think that this years game will be very evenly matched. Virginia Tech typically has a so-so offense at best, and Bama will definitely take a step back after losing steady QB John Parker Wilson, the explosive RB Glen Coffee, and beastly OT Andre Smith, among others.

Nick brought back Bama

History:
Not much history here. The teams have met 11 times in total, with Alabama holding a 10-1 record. However, the teams have only met once since 1979. That was in 1998, when they met in the Music City Bowl. That was also Tech's only win vs. the Tide, and they crushed them 38-7. The other games are 20+ years away, in a distant time when Virginia Tech wasn't the football power that it has become since their last regular season meeting in 1979.

The matchup:
Similarly to our #5 matchup, this game is all about defense. Virginia Tech and Beamer Ball is alive and well. Last year, the Hokies were supposed to take a step back, and they did - at least to start the season. They lost to East Carolina to open the season on a punt block, and were forced to take dynamic QB Tyrod Taylor away from his planned redshirt season. Tyrod responded in full force, leading the Hokies to an ACC title and sending the Hokies to an Orange Bowl victory.

In Tyrod they trust...

Most of the key players on Virginia Tech's side are back. While they do lose some key pieces (Macho Harris, Dustin Keys, Purnell Sturdivant), they bring back Tyrod Taylor, OT Ed Wang, S Kam Chancellor and LB Cam Martin. Last year was supposed to be the rebuilding year for Tech, and they won the ACC. So, the expectations are sky high for the Hokies this fall. It all starts with this game.

As for Alabama, losing starting QB John Parker Wilson could be a huge blow for their chances in this matchup. New starter Greg McElroy threw for just 123 yards last year. He's a junior though, so he's got experience in the system. In addition, Nick Saban wants his QB's to be game managers, so if McElroy can manage the game well and not turn it over, they'll have a good shot to win the game. Besides, when you have a talent like Julio Jones as a wide out, just get the ball to him any way you can and it'll make your life a lot easier. McElroy needs to use his weapons and they'll have a good shot to penetrate the stingy Hokies D.

Bama needs to replace the departed JPW to have a shot against the Hokies.

For Bama as well as Tech, defense reigns supreme. Bama returns 9 starts off a squad that started the season 12-0 before dropping the last 2 games of the year. Ginormous NG Terrance Cody is back, as well as terrorizing DE Brandon Deaderick. The LB's will be fantastic as well, with LB Rolando McClain returning (95 tackles in 2008). The Bama defense will be stingy and force Taylor to run around a lot.

This match up is about X-Factors, and Julio Jones is a big one. On the Maroon and Orange side, Tyrod is the x-factor. Whoever plays better in this game will lead their team to a victory. The defenses are so evenly matched and so stingy, that points will be extremely hard to come by. I can't wait to see this match up of rock vs hard place.

Fun Facts / Stats:
This is the first regular season meeting between the schools in 20 years.
If you take out Virginia Tech's lone victory in the series, Bama had won every game in the series by an average of over 25 points.

Prediction:
Both of these teams are defensive powerhouses, both coaches are tops in their conferences, and both systems produce a ball control, defensive style of game. Both teams also want to use this game as a spring board for their season. Unfortunately, only one of them will. The X-factors are Tyrod Taylor and Julio Jones. Whoever has a bigger game will lead their team to a victory. Julio is a bigger talent, but I think Tyrod comes up with the bigger game, and leads the Hokies to a victory.
Virginia Tech 23, Alabama 20 (OT)

UPDATE: Virginia Tech Hokies Apparel Sale: 50% off. Check it out VT fans.

Past games:

4. 11/7 - LSU @ Bama

5. 11/6- Ohio State @ Penn State

6. 11/28 - Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma

7. 9/5 - Georgia @ Oklahoma State

8. 9/19- Texas Tech at Texas

9. 9/19- Tennessee @ Florida

10. 10/31- Florida vs. Georgia

11. 9/19- Nebraska @ Va Tech

12. 11/21 - Oklahoma @ Texas Tech

13. 10/10 - Bama @ Ole Miss

14. 11/28- Utah @ BYU