posted September 26, 2008 at 15:13 EST in NCAA F Props
NCAAF XBOX 360 Sim - VTECH Hokies vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
by Mike Rose
Week 5 of NCAAF football betting continues Saturday evening with an ACC/Big 12 clash that finds the (3-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) Virginia Tech Hokies invading Lincoln, NE to take on the (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) Cornhuskers; kick-off is slated for 8:00 ET and can be seen nationally on ABC. The Hokies pulled one out of their rears last week in Chapel Hill when they scored 17-unanswered points to pull off the 20-17 come-from-behind victory over the North Carolina Tarheels. Big Red rested up during its bye last week, but before that, trounced New Mexico State by a 38-7 final count to cash its backers tickets for the second time in three tries this season. It’s been 12 years since these programs squared off against one another.
Weather: Partly cloudy then becoming mostly Cloudy with a 30% chance of thunderstorms, mid 50s.
1st Quarter:
The Hokies offense started off with solid field position after their special teams set them up at their own 30 after the opening kick. HC Frank Beamer elected to feel the Cornhuskers defense out with running plays by RB Darren Evans and QB Tyrod Taylor that moved the chains twice to set the offense up with a 1st and 10 at their own 49. True frosh RB Evans then ripped off his longest TD run of the season by scampering 51-yards to pay-dirt to allow the Hokies to dent the scoreboard first.
QB Joe Ganz and the Cornhusker offense looked to strike back quickly, and started their drive off with a 3rd down conversion to his TE for 12 yards. RB Marlon Lucky then ripped off another 1st down by galloping for eight yards on 3rd and short, but QB Ganz was then sacked on their next play from scrimmage. After completing a pass for 10 yards, Ganz was sacked again and his next pass fell incomplete on third down forcing the offense to punt the ball away.
Nebraska’s defense stiffened this time around and forced a three and out, but the punt was muffed allowing VTECH’s special teams to pounce on the ball at Big Red’s 32 yard line.
After converting a pair of 3rd and shorts, RB Evans plunged into the endzone from one-yard out to increase the visitors lead to 14.
The Cornhuskers offense desperately took the field looking to get themselves back in this, and the quarter closed with Ganz and company getting all the way down to the Hokies 19 yard line.
VTECH 14 NEBRASKA 0
2nd QUARTER
The break between quarters cooled the Huskers offense off as all three of Ganz’ passes fell incomplete forcing HC Bo Pelini to bring in sophomore Alex Henry for the 39 yarder. He nailed it to get the home team on the board.
Nebraska’s defense sacked QB Tyrod Taylor on 1st down of the Hokies next drive for a 10-yard loss, which set their special teams up at their own 3 when they punted on 4th down.
With Nebraska set up 1st and 10 at the Hokies 45, Ganz and the offense went to work. He hooked up with his big TE for 21 yards on the first play, and RB Lucky got them down to the Hokies 13 after Ganz found him streaking out of the backfield. Lucky then plunged in from five yards out to cut the Hokies lead to four.
After a six yard gain by RB Evans on first down, the “Blackshirts” dropped Taylor once again forcing VT into another 3rd and long that never came close to being converted.
After the special teams set Nebraska up at its own 42, QB Ganz wasted no time in grabbing Big Red’s first lead of the game when he connected with WR Nate Swift for a 58-yard pass and catch.
The Hokies offense sputtered on its previous two possessions, and the third time wasn’t the charm as it was three and out once again. DC Bud Foster’s defense took the field gassed, but knew it needed to step up if it was to stay in the game.
The “D” held its ground and forced a three and out, but the special teams let the team down this time when the punt was inexplicably muffed allowing Nebraska to haul it in at VT’s two-yard line. Why the punt returner chose to catch it inside his five yard line must have drove Beamer nuts! Ganz dove in from two out and increased the Huskers lead to 10. Beamer was seen getting in the faces of his special teams unit as the game went to commercial….
The Hokies needed something from the offense to try and bite into the lead before the break. The drive started off nicely with an 8-yard gain by Evans, and then Taylor completed a 13 yard pass setting the Hokies up 1st and 10 at midfield. However, Taylor’s next pass was deflected into the air and intercepted by DT Suh who dropped into zone coverage for what will probably be the only interception he has in his entire career.
With just 45 ticks left on the clock, Ganz and company wanted desperately to make the TO sting and punch it in before the break. However, he got picked off trying to force one into double coverage as the first half came to a close.
VTECH 14 NEBRASKA 24
3rd Quarter
Big Red got the ball in the second half and Ganz came out hot as a discharged pistol hooking up with his TE for 25 and WR for 27, but his next three passes fell incomplete and the Huskers had to settle for the 32-yarder; it was good.
Beamer had enough of Taylor’s ineffectiveness and decided to go back to senior QB Sean Glennon for the Hokies first drive of the second half. After RB’s Evans and Lewis picked up a pair of 1st downs, Glennon’s first pass from scrimmage got intercepted at Nebraska’s 38-yard line. Beamer was seen tossing his clipboard over his head in disgust.
Ganz hooked up with WR Swift for 20 and 23 yards on back-to-back plays, and then RB Lucky took it down to the Hokies one-yard line after a 12 yard rush before plunging in from a yard out to put the game out of reach.
Glennon and the offense got the ball to midfield, but it stalled on 4th down and Nebraska took over on its own 46. Ganz got the offense down to the Hokies 31 before the drive stalled, and K Alex Henry converted his third FG attempt of the evening.
VTECH 14 NEBRASKA 37
4TH QUARTER
Memorial Stadium was in a state of jubilation as the final quarter commenced. VTECH took possession of the ball first, but it didn’t last for long when QB Glennon was picked off for the second time in the game. The Hokies were hiding from their coaches from there on out.
Nebraska then churned out a time consuming drive that took close to eight minutes off the clock before VT stopped them on downs at their own 18.
VT churned out its best drive since its initial possession way back in the first quarter to finally get back on the scoreboard. RB Evans strolled in from eight yards out in the closing minute of the final quarter.
Victory formation for the Cornhuskers offense…..
FINAL SCORE: VIRGINIA TECH 21 NEBRASKA 37
This game simulation calls for a Nebraska cover and for the game to go Over the posted ‘Total’. You can get Nebraska (-7) –110 and the Over 45.5 –110 right now at BetUS.com!
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
FINAL |
|
VTECH |
14 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
21 |
NEBRASKA |
0 |
24 |
13 |
0 |
37 |
QB Tyrod Taylor: 5/12 85 yards 0 TD 2 INT
QB Joe Ganz: 19/33 342 yards 2 TD 1 INT
RB Darren Evans: 28 carries for 99 yards 3 TD Long of 51
RB Marlon Lucky: 14 carries for 77 yards 2 TD Long of 12
WR Zach Luckett: 3 receptions for 54 yards 0 TD Long of 25
WR Nate Swift: 7 receptions for 160 yards 2 TD Long of 58
VT |
NEB |
|
TOTAL OFFENSE |
268 |
471 |
RUSHING YARDS |
113 |
113 |
PASSING YARDS |
155 |
358 |
1ST DOWNS |
12 |
23 |
TOTAL YARDS |
490 |
535 |
TURNOVERS |
5 |
2 |
3RD DOWN CONV |
6/14 42% |
10/17 58% |
PENALTIES |
5-35 |
6-40 |
TIME OF POSSESSION |
34:27 |
25:33 |
