Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Alabama Crimson Tide – Need we say more?

Saturday, September 5—Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA— 8 pm EST

NCAA Betting Line: Alabama -6 1/2 (38)

Virginia Tech is one of the best programs in the ACC if not the best, but with the way they play, they might as well be in the SEC.

Frank Beamer’s squad is known for its top-notch, athletic defenses and dynamic special teams play, and they often find themselves in intense, close games that are decided by big plays on defense.

Alabama is a similar style of team in a lot of ways led by Nick Saban, and their Saturday night clash with the Hokies at 8 p.m. might have the look and feel of an early-October SEC Conference game.

The BetOnline.com Sportsbook currently has the Tide as 6 ½-point favorite going into this one with the over/under set at 38 points.

The Georgia Dome battle will likely be a low-scoring defense contest because the offenses on both teams haven’t quite caught up to the defenses.

Alabama will be missing QB John Parker Wilson and Greg McElroy will likely get the start. McElroy will probably try and manage the game and avoid the big mistake considering his first start comes against a top-notch Virginia Tech defense.

‘Bama returns backup running back Mark Ingram from last year and the Flint, Michigan native shouldn’t be much of a drop-off from last year’s starter Glen Coffee considering the experience he has going into the year. Julio Jones is ‘Bama’s biggest playmaker but expect lots of double coverage from Va. Tech for him.

‘Bama’s inexperienced o-line will make it tough to get untracked vs. the Hokies, however.

As for Virginia Tech, Tyrod Taylor’s play might be the difference between a win or loss and definitely the difference between whether they’ll cover the spread or not.

Going against Alabama’s elite defense which returns 9 starters, Taylor’s ability to turn nothing into something via the run on broken plays could keep Va. Tech close on the night.

Virginia Tech returns virtually all of their top skill players from offense last year and that should allow them to at least score a few points and put the heat on ‘Bama’s offense.

The total has gone under in 5 of the Hokies’ last 6 games and that should again be the case on Saturday as Va. Tech will win a close, low-scoring game.

The pick: Virginia Tech (+6 ½) and the under (+/-38 points).