posted November 29, 2007 at 18:35 in NCAA F Articles

Preview Revenge is a dish best served up in the ACC Championship game. Nothing will validate a loss to Boston College earlier this season, then a victory with everything on the line for both teams. Will Matt Ryan and the Eagles be able to repeat the comeback thriller of the regular season against Tech? Or will the Hokies thirst for revenge in a bloody game that sees them as victors?

Virginia Tech Offense vs. Boston College Defense

The Hokies had a strange stroke of genius in November. Neither Tyrod Taylor or Sean Glennon was seizing the starting job with authority. So what did they do? They start them both! In the process, the Hokies have averaged 39.0 points per game. Glennon is the more efficient passer, but Taylor has proven to be a lethal threat when he breaks outside the pocket and is able to use his feet to rush for gains.

Boston College’s defense has stymied low-octane offense like Miami and Clemson (for a combined 31 points). But they got demolished by Maryland for 42 points. Virginia Tech has averaged 39.0 points per game with 198.5 passing yards and 136.5 rushing yards per game.

Branden Ore has always had success against Boston College. The last time these two teams met, he averaged 4.9 yards per carry. The Eagles are limping up front with injuries to the linebacker personnel (Dunbar and Pruitt), Virginia Tech will find plenty of room against a rushing defense that has previously only given up 2.2 yards per carry.

The Hokies betting faithful can rest assured that Ore will steady the offense, keeping Ryan on the sidelines. Boston College has wavered in the month of November, and this is going to be a rough matchup for a banged up defense up against a blood thirsty squad of Hokies.

Boston College Offense vs. Virginia Tech Defense

The reason that the Eagles have faltered is because team’s discovered they were astutely one-dimensional. The Eagles may average 108.8 rushing yards per game, but they don’t turn to the run as often as that statistic would have you assume. Against the Hokies earlier this season, they ran the ball just eighteen times in a tight scoring game that called for a steady dose of rushing authority.

BC and their betting faithful have relied too heavily on Matt Ryan’s canon to survive them in games. His magical run was almost cemented when he led a last-minute charge against the Hokies the first time these two teams met to a surprising comeback. The Eagles average 331.8 yards per game, while the passing defense for Tech gives up an ugly 199.2 pass yards against.

What should worry the betting investor the most is that Matt Ryan has thrown at least two interceptions in four of his last five games. He is taking too many risks, trying to accomplish too much and struggling to reclaim the Heisman spotlight he once enjoyed. Expect Tech to take advantage of the one-dimensional Eagles offense as they swarm the rushing attack and attack Ryan in the middle of the secondary with momentum-changing picks.

NCAA Football Betting Trends

-Virginia Tech is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games

-total has gone OVER in 5 of Virginia Tech’s last 7 games

-Boston College is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games

-Boston College is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Virginia Tech

Final Verdict

Momentum is a killer at this level. Some would-be betting hopefuls would argue that Boston College is playing with a “nothing to lose” mentality. But they would be wrong. The Eagles have already lost their season, playing heartless football since the devastating loss to Maryland. Uninspiring victories over Clemson and Miami should not impress anyone.

Virginia Tech has been on fire since adopting the quarterback tag-team strategy of Glennon-Taylor. Tech will be out for blood, and a BCS bowl game berth, with a victory in this season’s ACC Championship. Bet on the Tech defense asking Ryan look bad as the steady rushing of Ore bulldozes Tech to a victory.

#6 Virginia Tech Hokies (10-2) vs. #11 Boston College (10-2)

Saturday, December 1st --- Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville --- 1:00pm EST

NCAA Football Opening Lines: Virginia Tech -3.5 (45)

NCAA Football Free Pick: Virginia Tech 21 Boston College 14

NCAA football betting has started, and BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Futures betting available for those of us who can't wait. Bet on the Heisman winner, Conference and Divisional winners and, of course, the 2008 BCS National Championship winner. Bet NCAA Football Futures in our sportsbook today in the Future / props section!