Saturday college football, and we will see the Virginia Tech Hokies travel to Greensville, North Carolina to take on the East Carolina Pirates. The start time is 12:00 pm (Eastern) and the game will be televised locally. Current Odds have Virginia Tech listed as 8.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 48.
Analysis: Virginia Tech bounced back from a lopsided week one loss to defending national champion Alabama, with a 45-3 rout of Western Carolina last week. The Hokies had won 10 or more games in eight consecutive seasons before their 7-6 overall finish to 2012. The Hokies racked up 462 yards of total offense in their victory over Western Carolina with Thomas accounting for 200 yards on 17-of-31 passing. Thomas has not posted great numbers thus far, completing just 38.6 percent of his passes for 259 yards with one touchdown to three interceptions, but at least he doesn't have to face a defense coached by Saban again this year. This kid has very good talent and we should se improved numbers as the season goes on. The Hokie defense does not need improving. Virginia Tech ranked 18th among FBS teams in total defense last season and is once again one of the best in the nation at stopping its opponent. The Hokies have allowed 217 yards or less of total offense in four consecutive games and they currently rank third in the nation in pass efficiency defense (80.5). The Hokies hold a 12-5 all-time series lead including their 5-2 mark at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Ruffin McNeill's Pirates coasted to a 31-13 decision in their C-USA opener last week. This will be the final segment of their three-game homestand to begin the 2013 slate. The Hokies' top-notch pass defense will have trouble against the duo of Shane Carden and Justin Hardy. Carden has opened up the season with 638 yards and 7 touchdowns in his first 2 starts of the year. Hardy, who has 227 yards on 20 catches through two games, enters Saturday having made at least three catches in each of his first 25 career games and he got his 18th career touchdown reception last week against FAU. Running back Vintavious Cooper is the Pirates' leading rusher with 66.5 yards per game, but was also the team's top receiver against Florida Atlantic last week with five receptions for 49 yards. Defensively, ECU came up with three turnovers, two interceptions and a fumble recovery, in the win over FAU and they are 4th in the nation in sacks at 4 pg. East Carolina has won 11 of its last 12 games when scoring 30 or more points, including the first two contests of 2013.
Pick: I will be going with the Under in this one. The Hokie defense is very good this year as they seem to be getting back to what they do best and that's “D” it up. The Offense though has struggled and that should lead to Beamer playing games a bit more conservative, knowing he has that solid defense to fall back on. ECU is an offensive machine at times, but they were pretty much held in check last week vs FAU and I see the Hokies doing the same here. Look for this one to land in the lower 40s at best.
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