Virginia Tech Football: 2009 Schedule Preview

Virginia Tech Football 2009 Schedule - Add trips to Georgia Tech, Maryland, UVA, Duke, and EU on a Thursday night and this may be a pretty tricky course the Hokies are going to need to pass. The excellent news for Hokie fans is that this may be one of our better all around soccer groups.

After stumbling thru the middle part of last season, the Hokies turned it on won 5 of their last 6 games. The 2008 team annihilated Boston School in Tampa last December to win an ACC Championship then overpowered a smaller Gigantic East team to win their first BCS Bowl game down in Miami.

This year should be another one to recollect for Hokie fans as Tech gears up for a Countrywide Championship run heading into 2009.

Alabama – Sept. 5 (Atlanta, GA)

The Crimson Tide marched into Atlanta last year and totally embarrassed the Clemson Tigers. This year, I just don't see the Hokies rolling over like Clemson did last Sep . Also, as we saw in the Sugar Bowl last year, the Tide will need to sort out some issues on the offensive line as they were hideous without All-American Andre Smith.



However, as many query marks as Alabama has, it isn't like their short on talent.
This game will be a slugfest which will come down to whichever team makes the fewest mistakes. With the way Tech has played in huge games against top 10 groups over the last decade, I possess a hard time picking VT here although I suspect they are the better team.
Predictions: Virginia Tech – 13, Alabama – 17

Marshall – Sept 12 (Blacksburg, VA)


The Thundering Hurd failed to have a particularly provoking 2008 campaign as they finished the season with merely a 4-8 record. For comparisons sake, they lost to Wisconsin 51-14, WVU 27-3, Cincinnati 33-10, and lost to EU in overtime 19-16.
Their quarterback Mark Cann was just a freshman last season and did shockingly well in his first year under center. Cann was correct with the ball as he finished over 50-percent of his passes and assembled a fourteen to thirteen touchdown to interception proportion.
Cann isn't extraordinarily mobile, which implies he will spend a significant slice of this game on his back. The groups leading rusher, Junior Darius Marshall, returns after coming inside one yard of an 1100 yard rushing season last year. The Hokies are just too gifted and should roll in this one simply.

Prediction: Virginia Tech – 43, Marshall – 10


Nebraska – Sept. 19 (Blacksburg, VA)



In Bo Pelini's first year, the Cornhuskers saw a massive improvement from the formerly Bill Callahan coached groups. Inversely , 2009 could be a little step back for the Huskers as far as their record will go. Joe Ganz was the essence of this team this past year and since he's now departed, Coach Pelini will have to find himself a new quarterback.
Junior Zac Lee seems to be the likely option with sophomore Patrick Witt deciding to transfer.
Also lost from 2008 were the Cornhusker's top two wideouts in Todd Peterson and Nate Swift. With Marlon Fortunate gone as well at running back, the Nebraska offense will look much different this autumn.
This one could be a close game since Tech did defeat Nebraska on their home turf last year, but I see the Hokies winning this one by a touchdown or more.
Prediction: Virginia Tech – 27, Nebraska – 20

Miami – Sept. 26 (Blacksburg, VA)

This year, that youth should grown up a bit and you must see Miami Hurricanes return to being a competitive team once more. The Canes did beat the Hokies last season 16-14, in one of the more maddening soccer games I have ever observed. This year, the Hokies get this game in Blacksburg and I do not see Tech losing 2 in a row to Randy Shannon's club. Miami returns just about everybody from a season back except quarterback Robert Marve who made a decision to transfer rather than having to fight Jacory Harris for playing time again this season. I think Miami will be a better team this year but I just don't see them being up to the level of other groups in the tidal division.

Prediction: Virginia Tech – 24, Miami - 14