College Football Preview: Virginia Tech Hokies

Ryan Williams had an epic freshman season in 2009. (AP Images)

The most dominant ACC program for a while has been Virginia Tech, but the Hokies missed out on the ACC Championship Game last year for only the second time in the five years of its existence. However, Virginia Tech opens the 2010 season as the highest-ranked ACC team in the preseason polls, with the Hokies at No. 10 in the AP poll and No. 6 in the USA Today poll. Yet they are slightly behind Miami as the favorite on Bodog’s NCAA futures odds to win the ACC Coastal Division and the conference title.

The offense should be spectacular this year with seven starters back. In fact, Virginia Tech has the best 1-2 punch in the nation at running back. As a freshman last year, Ryan Williams had ACC-leading totals of 1,655 yards and 22 touchdowns and a 5.6-yards-per-carry average. And what’s scary is the team also welcomes back Darren Evans, who missed last season after tearing an ACL in August. He rushed for 1,265 yards, 11 touchdowns (both ACC freshman records until Williams blew past them in 2009) in 2008, which earned him ACC Freshman of the Year honors just like Williams last year. QB Tyrod Taylor, who is 23-5 as a starter in his career, returns for his senior year after leading the ACC in pass efficiency with a 149.39 ranking, throwing for 2,311 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 56 percent of his passes. Tech’s top three wideouts and three offensive line starters are back.

The defense, which is usually what carries this team, may need some time to jell with only three starters back. The Hokies don't return anyone who had more than 3.5 sacks last season and also have some issues at linebacker. CB Rashad Carmichael is on the verge of stardom after picking off six passes last year.

Whether this team can compete for a national title could be decided as early as next Monday, when Tech faces Boise State at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins. Boise is a 2-point favorite on Bodog’s NCAA odds.

Virginia Tech’s over/under total on Bodog is 9 wins this year. So be a player and bet on whether you think the Hokies will beat that number.