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No. 1 Alabama meets Va. Tech in Saturday's opener
By: Brian Graham
Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA
Kickoff: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. ET
Line: Alabama -18, Total: 45.5
No. 1 Alabama begins its quest for a third straight national title on Saturday afternoon when it meets Virginia Tech at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Eventual Heisman winner Mark Ingram led the Crimson Tide to a 34-24 win-and-cover over Virginia Tech in 2009 at the Georgia Dome, outgaining the Hokies 498 to 155 in total yardage. That began a run of three BCS Championships in four years for Alabama, which once again has a championship roster with returning star QB AJ McCarron, 1,000-yard WR Amari Cooper and 1,000-yard RB T.J. Yeldon. Seven starters return from the last year’s dominant defense as well. Off a huge 7-6 letdown season in 2012, the Hokies need QB Logan Thomas to find consistency, and they’ve yet to find a bell-cow in their crowded RB committee. The Tech defense should be excellent with nine returning starters, but star CB Antone Exum is doubtful for the opener as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in January. Since taking over at Alabama, head coach Nick Saban is 14-4 ATS (79%) in non-home games in the first half of the season, and since 2009, his team is 19-7 ATS (73%) in all non-home games and 12-6 ATS (67%) in non-SEC tilts. On the flip side, Virginia Tech is 8-18 ATS (31%) overall in the past seasons, including 4-10 ATS (29%) in non-home games and 3-6 ATS (33%) outside the ACC.
Crimson Tide QB AJ McCarron (2,933 pass yds, 30 TD, 3 INT) led the nation in passing efficiency last season and still has WR Amari Cooper (1,000 rec. yds, 11 TD) as his go-to receiver. RB T.J. Yeldon (1,108 rush yds, 12 TD) propels the No. 16 ground game (228 YPG), which lost three starters on the offensive line. For the second straight season, Alabama led the country in both total defense (250 YPG) and rushing defense (80 YPG), while ranking second in scoring defense (10.9 PPG allowed). DE Ed Stinson (3 sacks, 5 QBH) is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, but LB C.J. Mosley (107 tackles, 4 sacks) will dominate the middle again with OLB Adrian Hubbard (7 sacks, 3 FF). CB Deion Belue (40 tackles, 7 PD) and safeties Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (5 INT) and Vinnie Sunseri (54 tackles) are all top-notch defenders.
The Hokies are coming off their worst campaign in two decades, as the offense ranked 83rd in the nation in both yards (377 YPG) and points (25.1 PPG). Head coach Frank Beamer is hoping new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler can work miracles with erratic QB Logan Thomas (51% completions, 2,976 pass yds, 18 TD, 16 INT). Both starting offensive tackles and his top three receivers are gone, but the Hokies do get back senior WR D.J. Coles (480 rec. yds in 2011) who missed last year with a knee injury. Top RB J.C. Coleman (492 rush yds, 4.5 YPC) returns, but he gained 50 rushing yards just once in 2012, and is questionable to play on Saturday because of an ankle injury. The excellent Virginia Tech defense (333 YPG, 18th in FBS; 99 TFL, T-9th in FBS) is stacked again though. DE James Gayle (5 sacks) and LB Jack Tyler (119 tackles) headline a fierce front seven, but the secondary may struggle without CB Antone Exum (5 INT).
By: Brian Graham
Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA
Kickoff: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. ET
Line: Alabama -18, Total: 45.5
No. 1 Alabama begins its quest for a third straight national title on Saturday afternoon when it meets Virginia Tech at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Eventual Heisman winner Mark Ingram led the Crimson Tide to a 34-24 win-and-cover over Virginia Tech in 2009 at the Georgia Dome, outgaining the Hokies 498 to 155 in total yardage. That began a run of three BCS Championships in four years for Alabama, which once again has a championship roster with returning star QB AJ McCarron, 1,000-yard WR Amari Cooper and 1,000-yard RB T.J. Yeldon. Seven starters return from the last year’s dominant defense as well. Off a huge 7-6 letdown season in 2012, the Hokies need QB Logan Thomas to find consistency, and they’ve yet to find a bell-cow in their crowded RB committee. The Tech defense should be excellent with nine returning starters, but star CB Antone Exum is doubtful for the opener as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in January. Since taking over at Alabama, head coach Nick Saban is 14-4 ATS (79%) in non-home games in the first half of the season, and since 2009, his team is 19-7 ATS (73%) in all non-home games and 12-6 ATS (67%) in non-SEC tilts. On the flip side, Virginia Tech is 8-18 ATS (31%) overall in the past seasons, including 4-10 ATS (29%) in non-home games and 3-6 ATS (33%) outside the ACC.
Crimson Tide QB AJ McCarron (2,933 pass yds, 30 TD, 3 INT) led the nation in passing efficiency last season and still has WR Amari Cooper (1,000 rec. yds, 11 TD) as his go-to receiver. RB T.J. Yeldon (1,108 rush yds, 12 TD) propels the No. 16 ground game (228 YPG), which lost three starters on the offensive line. For the second straight season, Alabama led the country in both total defense (250 YPG) and rushing defense (80 YPG), while ranking second in scoring defense (10.9 PPG allowed). DE Ed Stinson (3 sacks, 5 QBH) is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, but LB C.J. Mosley (107 tackles, 4 sacks) will dominate the middle again with OLB Adrian Hubbard (7 sacks, 3 FF). CB Deion Belue (40 tackles, 7 PD) and safeties Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (5 INT) and Vinnie Sunseri (54 tackles) are all top-notch defenders.
The Hokies are coming off their worst campaign in two decades, as the offense ranked 83rd in the nation in both yards (377 YPG) and points (25.1 PPG). Head coach Frank Beamer is hoping new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler can work miracles with erratic QB Logan Thomas (51% completions, 2,976 pass yds, 18 TD, 16 INT). Both starting offensive tackles and his top three receivers are gone, but the Hokies do get back senior WR D.J. Coles (480 rec. yds in 2011) who missed last year with a knee injury. Top RB J.C. Coleman (492 rush yds, 4.5 YPC) returns, but he gained 50 rushing yards just once in 2012, and is questionable to play on Saturday because of an ankle injury. The excellent Virginia Tech defense (333 YPG, 18th in FBS; 99 TFL, T-9th in FBS) is stacked again though. DE James Gayle (5 sacks) and LB Jack Tyler (119 tackles) headline a fierce front seven, but the secondary may struggle without CB Antone Exum (5 INT).
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