Why You Should Watch?

Two teams separated by four hours and the Appalachian Mountains that play very similar styles of football; big boy, run first, smash mouth football. Frank Beamer is a salt of the earth long time guy while Lane Kiffin is a new, flashy, mouthy guy captaining the Tennessee ship. Tune in and you’ll see two contrasting coaching personalities but two very similar football philosophies.

When Virginia Tech has the football:

Tyrod Taylor is one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the nation and he has finally come into his own in his junior season. That emergence can be based on two facts; first the maturation of his receiving core and secondly the dominating running performance of freshman Ryan Williams. The freshman ran for over 1,500 yards and totaled 19 touchdowns on his way to becoming a first team All-ACC running back. There will be heavy doses of Williams who averaged around 128 yards per game supplemented with play action passes to Jarrett Boykins and Danny Coale.

For Tennessee they bring a possible number one overall draft pick to the party in safety Eric Berry. Berry is a dynamic player capable of controlling games with his presence and Monte Kiffin has taken advantage of the studs abilities both physical and his mental understanding of the game. Dan Williams, the defensive tackle, Rico McCoy at linebacker give the Vols two more All-SEC defenders that anchor the nation’s 18^th ranked defense. They have played will with Florida, Alabama and haven’t given up more than 23 points in regulation to BCS opponents.

When Tennessee has the football:

Montario Hardesty is the Volunteers answer to Ryan Williams as the senior ran for over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns against stiff SEC defenses. Hardesty was one of two Volunteers selected to the All-SEC team on the offensive side of the ball. Early in the season Jonathan Crompton was a massive liability tossing ten interceptions in his first seven games including eight in the first four. Lately Crompton’s taken care of the ball and he must do so against the Hokies by finding his receivers and relying on his running game.

Bud Foster is to that Hokies defense what Monte Kiffin had become in Tampa Bay. A constant regardless of the offensive side of the ball the defense will come to play every single day. This year the defense is “down” meaning a 14^th ranking overall after replacing NFL linebackers and cornerback Macho Harris. Cody Grimm is the heart and soul of this defense and defensive end Jason Worilds will be coming off the edge to harass Crompton on every passing opportunity. If the middle of the defense can bottle up the run Virginia Tech will be taking a massive step in the right direction.

Intangibles:

After missing a bowl game for the first time in a long time last season the Vols are coming back in the postseason energized. Lane Kiffin knows that the win will do his recruiting machine well and getting a good showing in Atlanta will also help the programs future. For Virginia Tech they’ve already gone through a loss to an SEC school in the Georgia Dome this season, Alabama, they are not looking to let history repeat itself. Beamer’s squad went as far as mid-October with thoughts of a BCS Bowl and national title game. The Chic-Fil-A bowl is a nice consolation prize and both teams should have their game faces on.

What will happen:

Tennessee is looking to showcase the SEC’s dominance over the ACC for yet another game this season and after last year’s GT-LSU debacle the ACC needs this game more than any of the league’s other match ups. Virginia Tech will come in to run the football straight at the Volunteers and Tennessee will look to do the same. Tyrod Taylor will be the difference as he is capable of making plays with his feet that Jonathan Crompton cannot reproduce. Taylor is the X-factor as the Hokies grab the ACC a much needed win in this game.

My pick: Virginia Tech 20 Tennesse 14