NCAA Football Odds: Marshall at Virginia Tech Preview

The Hokies are huge favorites vs. Marshall. (Wikimedia Images)"]

Through the Frank Beamer years, you could always count on two things when it came to Virginia Tech football: excellent defense and special teams. Well, the Hokies forced two Alabama turnovers last week and had a 98-yard kickoff return, but Virginia Tech was gashed by the Tide for 268 yards rushing and 180 total fourth-quarter yards in a 34-24 loss.

Highly regarded defensive coordinator Bud Foster blamed the problems on just a few big plays and overall fatigue for his unit, but he also vowed that defense would respond in a big way, starting Saturday against Marshall. The No. 14 Hokies are 20-point favorites on Bodog.

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Since this week's game is Tech's home opener, the likelihood of it losing is small, considering the Hokies have won every home opener since 1996 and are 20-2 under Beamer in home openers all-time. The Hokies also are 45-7-1 against non-conference foes at Lane Stadium since 1991 and have won 30 consecutive at Lane against teams from outside their conference.

Certainly Virginia Tech needs not only to improve its run defense but also its offense. The Hokies managed just 155 total yards and 2-for-12 on third downs, with QB Tyrod Taylor looking as inconsistent as ever, going 9 of 20 for 91 yards passing. The team very much seemed to miss 2008 leading rusher Darren Evans, who was lost for the year in fall camp. But in fairness, that Alabama defense is one of the nation’s best.

As for Marshall, from Conference USA, it beat Southern Illinois 31-28 last week behind QB Brian Anderson's 316 yards passing (75 percent completions) and three touchdowns. But the Herd ground game had just 72 yards on 36 attempts against SIU. That running attack should get a boost this week with the return of junior Darius Marshall from a one-game suspension. Last year, Marshall gained 1,095 yards - a 91.2 average per game - and scored five touchdowns. Also back this week for Marshall from a one-game suspension is cornerback DeQuan Bembry, arguably the team's best cover corner and the team’s third-leading tackler in 2008.

Virginia Tech leads this series 7-2 overall (4-0 at home), although the teams haven't met since 2005.

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