While there has been plenty of quality of action in this opening week of the college football season, it’s just been an appetizer. The main course is happening on Labor Day at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland as Boise State takes on Virginia Tech.
This game is paramount for the third-ranked Broncos (highest ever ranking) as a win here gives them the easiest path to the BCS Championship Game. A win for Virginia Tech in this game lets Frank Beamer’s kids show that they are going to be a force once again in 2010.
The hype surrounding this game started back at the beginning of August when the Games of the Year Odds were released. Boise State was initially posted as a 2 ½-point favorite with a total of 51. The Broncos have held onto that favored status for all of August and the early part of September. However, the Hokies are getting some love from gambling public as they’re set up as 1 ½-point pups for this game. As far as totals players are concerned, you’re going to see the number sitting no lower than 50 at many betting shops.
Boise State comes into this game with arguably the most veteran squad in college football, returning 21 of 22 starters from a year ago. All they did last season was post a 14-0 mark for its second perfect season in the last four. They achieved that feat with a team that had an offense that was 10th in the nation in total offense (450.2 YPG) and the best scoring attack in the land (42.2 PPG) in 2009. The mastermind of this offense is head coach Chris Petersen, but the extension of his mind comes in the form of Kellen Moore.
Moore was second only to Tim Tebow last year in passing efficiency (161.7 rating) as he threw for 3,536 yards and 39 touchdowns. More important to Boise State’s success is that Moore was picked off just three times in 2009. And it doesn’t hurt that the Broncs have an offensive line that surrendered five sacks in all of ’09.
Virginia Tech comes into this game not exactly like they’re chopped liver. The Hokies are coming off of a 10-3 campaign that culminated in a 37-14 beatdown against Lane Kiffin and Tennessee in the Chik-fil-A Bowl. That win over the Vols gave V-Tech its sixth-straight 10-win season, all of which have come in the ACC.
The Hokies return Tyrod Taylor under center and that should help see blood pressure rise in Blacksburg. Taylor showed promise last year with 13 passing touchdowns. Yet you could see some of his questionable decision making come through at the end of the year with two interceptions in his final two starts of 2009. Plus, he was reluctant to drop the ball off, evidenced by his getting sacked 11 times in his last five games.
Taylor will get a lot more help this year with Darren Evans returning after sitting out last season with an injury. That will give Ryan Williams some help in the backfield after a Rookie of the Year 2009 campaign that saw him gain 1,655 yards on the ground with 21 scores.
One thing that you know expect of any Beamer-led team is a stout defense. That’s what the Hokies had last season as they gave up just 295.5 YPG to rank 12th nationally. There is some reason for concern in this game though as Virginia Tech is bringing back just four starters from that unit. Of course, the beauty of Frank Beamer’s crew is that much of it on the defensive side is plug-n-play.
So who’s got the edge in this game that’ll be on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EDT?
Boise State has been almost automatic under Petersen’s tenure as a road favorite, going 20-1 straight up. However, they’re just 10-10-1 against the spread in that time. While that doesn’t sound great, keep in mind that the Broncos are 4-2 ATS in the last six in this situation.
Virginia Tech has not been a great team to back in season openers. Ask any gambler that has backed them and they’ll tell you the Hokies are 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS in their last three lid-lifters. The ‘over’ is 2-1 in that stretch.
You can reach Judd Hall via e-mail at judd@vegasinsider.com
