subject: Virginia Tech Hokies 2010 Football Preview, Futures Odds and Betting Picks [print this page] While the Virginia Tech Hokies sat at just 5-3 after eight weeks last year, Frank Beamer's squad regrouped and won their final five matchups to finish 10-3. QB Tyrod Taylor and many of the leaders on offense are back and the Hokies have high hopes in 2010. The running game should be one of the best in the nation, but the defense does have several question marks as youngsters must fill some big shoes in order to keep this unit's production from sliding downhill.
In Frank Beamer's tenure as coach at Virginia Tech, the focus has generally been on special teams and defense leading the way. The special teams should still be one of the best, but one would think the offense might have to lead the way this year for the Hokies to contend in the national title race. Beamer will expect his eight new defensive starters to hold their own, and he'll also expect the offense to control the football.
College Football Predictions: Virginia Tech Offensive Preview
The Virginia Tech Hokies offense should be extremely strong in 2010. With Tyrod Taylor under center and Ryan Williams and Darren Evans splitting time at tailback, they will have two amazing runners in the backfield at all times. Evans went down with an injury last year, but he was sensational two years ago. You could argue that these two form the best running back tandem in the country. Taylor has improved his passing ability and decision making each year, so he should be one of the better quarterbacks in the country this season. The wide receiver unit is deep, and these guys will consistently get open for Taylor. Three of their five offensive line starters return in 2010 making this another solid group. The Hokies offense may be the most talented group Frank Beamer has ever had in Blacksburg. Expect this unit to control the football and put plenty of points on the board.
Virginia Tech Defensive Preview
This is the side of the football that Virginia Tech fans are worried about in 2010. The defense lost eight of its top 13 tacklers from a year ago, and graduation and early entrants to the NFL Draft hit the defensive line particularly hard. Both defensive ends left, and the Hokies will likely struggle to put as much pressure on quarterbacks this year. The linebackers are a solid group, but questions about Barquell Rivers' health are extremely concerning. This team needs Rivers healthy, because he is the clear leader of this defense at this point. The secondary is quick and athletic, but some of them are quite raw. The Hokies and coordinator Bud Foster always have a good defense, so I think this group will be solid, but it would be shocking if there isn't some drop off compared to last year's defense.
Virginia Tech Question Marks
The offense will be very good, but for it to be great they'll need Taylor to continue to develop in the passing game. The Hokies will beat most teams just with their rushing attack, but they'll need balanced attack against the best teams on their schedule.
The defensive line is the biggest question mark on this team. Can they continue to stuff the run the way they have in previous years? Can they put enough pressure on the quarterback to take the heat off their secondary? These are big unknowns heading into the season.
Virginia Tech Football Futures Odds
The college football odds aren't quite as high on the Hokies as they were a year ago, largely because of the question marks surrounding the defense. Still, 5dimes has Virginia Tech listed as the eighth favorite to win the BCS Championship at +2200. The Hokies are listed at +175 to win the ACC Coastal Division and +260 to win the ACC Championship overall. Sportsbook.com has set the team total for wins in 2010 at 9.5 games. Currently, over' 9.5 wins is listed at -120 and under' 9.5 wins is even money.
The 2010 Virginia Tech football schedule gets interesting right from the beginning, as the Hokies will play Boise State in their season opener at Fed Ex Field. After this game, the 2010 Virginia Tech football schedule gets much easier until the stretch run in the ACC Conference. Keep a close eye on their back-to-back games at North Carolina and at Miami on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20. These will be a couple big tests for this Hokies team before they finish up at home against rival Virginia.
2010 Virginia Tech Football Predictions
The ACC is not loaded, but it also isn't a weak conference this year. Virginia Tech will have several tough tests on the road, and it's unlikely they'll win all of those games with such a young defense. It will be up to the offense to keep the chains moving, and keep the defense off the field this year. I don't think this team is good enough to win it all, but I think this could certainly be a Top 5 team in my college football picks at the conclusion of the season.
Virginia Tech Hokies 2010 Football Preview, Futures Odds and Betting Picks
