Virginia Tech
1st ACC11-2
Stanford
2nd PAC-1211-1
Virginia Tech @ Stanford preview
Hard Rock Stadium
The Skinny: As a reward for blowing away the bulk of the Pac-10, Stanford earned a trip across the country to South Florida. The Cardinal (11-1) had one of the best seasons in school history, losing only at undefeated Oregon on Oct. 2. Andrew Luck is a Heisman finalist and the current favorite to go No. 1 in the NFL draft and coach Jim Harbaugh is a hot name in coaching searches around the country.
Virginia Tech (11-2) lost its first two games — the second to FCS school James Madison — and then flew under the radar the rest of the season, knocking off the ACC with relative ease and putting up 44 points on Florida State in the conference championship game.
Point Spread: Stanford -3. Over/Under 57.5.
Stanford’s Edge: Auburn’s Cam Newton might walk away with all the awards, but Luck can certainly make a strong case for himself as the best passer in the nation. The third-year sophomore has the Cardinal ranked eighth nationally in scoring offense at over 40 points per game and is completing 70.2 percent of his passes this season. He has the accuracy and arm strength to pick apart defenses.
Virginia Tech’s Edge: Running back Ryan Williams is the other highly touted third-year sophomore in this game and will be one of the keys to keeping the ball out of Luck’s hands. The Hokies excel in the running game behind a trio of Williams, Darren Evans and David Wilson, who combined for 25 touchdowns this season, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who averages 10 rushing attempts per game and has broken off runs of 11 yards or more in all but one game this season.
The Quarterbacks: Luck has studied under a former NFL quarterback in Harbaugh for the past three seasons and it shows, as he passed for 3,050 yards and 28 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 2010. He may not be in Taylor’s class as an athlete, but he can get outside the pocket and make things happen with his legs when needed.
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer recently suggested that Taylor could have been a Heisman Finalist if not for the two losses to open the season, and he might be right. Taylor set the school’s single season record with 23 touchdown passes and was named the ACC Player of the Year.
NFL Prospects: Stanford — QB Andrew Luck, FB Owen Marecic, WR Chris Owusu, TE Konrad Reuland, C Chase Beeler. Virginia Tech — RB Ryan Williams, CB Rashad Carmichael, WR Dyrell Roberts, QB Tyrod Taylor.
Bowl history: Stanford is 9-11-1 all-time in bowl games and will be playing in the postseason for the second stright year after an eight-year drought. The Cardinal fell to Oklahoma, 31-27, in the Sun Bowl last year.
Virginia Tech will be playing in its fourth BCS Bowl in the last seven seasons and is 9-14 all-time in bowl games. The Hokies have played in 17 straight bowl games - going 8-9 - since Beamer took over the program, including three Orange Bowl appearances.
Etc.: Harbaugh has made some very critical comments about the Bowl system recently, especially in regard to the preference of choosing teams with fanbases that travel well and therefore bring in the most money. Many wonder if this will be his last game on the Stanford sidelines with higher-profile programs and NFL teams already calling.
Virginia Tech (11-2) lost its first two games — the second to FCS school James Madison — and then flew under the radar the rest of the season, knocking off the ACC with relative ease and putting up 44 points on Florida State in the conference championship game.
Point Spread: Stanford -3. Over/Under 57.5.
Stanford’s Edge: Auburn’s Cam Newton might walk away with all the awards, but Luck can certainly make a strong case for himself as the best passer in the nation. The third-year sophomore has the Cardinal ranked eighth nationally in scoring offense at over 40 points per game and is completing 70.2 percent of his passes this season. He has the accuracy and arm strength to pick apart defenses.
Virginia Tech’s Edge: Running back Ryan Williams is the other highly touted third-year sophomore in this game and will be one of the keys to keeping the ball out of Luck’s hands. The Hokies excel in the running game behind a trio of Williams, Darren Evans and David Wilson, who combined for 25 touchdowns this season, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who averages 10 rushing attempts per game and has broken off runs of 11 yards or more in all but one game this season.
The Quarterbacks: Luck has studied under a former NFL quarterback in Harbaugh for the past three seasons and it shows, as he passed for 3,050 yards and 28 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 2010. He may not be in Taylor’s class as an athlete, but he can get outside the pocket and make things happen with his legs when needed.
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer recently suggested that Taylor could have been a Heisman Finalist if not for the two losses to open the season, and he might be right. Taylor set the school’s single season record with 23 touchdown passes and was named the ACC Player of the Year.
NFL Prospects: Stanford — QB Andrew Luck, FB Owen Marecic, WR Chris Owusu, TE Konrad Reuland, C Chase Beeler. Virginia Tech — RB Ryan Williams, CB Rashad Carmichael, WR Dyrell Roberts, QB Tyrod Taylor.
Bowl history: Stanford is 9-11-1 all-time in bowl games and will be playing in the postseason for the second stright year after an eight-year drought. The Cardinal fell to Oklahoma, 31-27, in the Sun Bowl last year.
Virginia Tech will be playing in its fourth BCS Bowl in the last seven seasons and is 9-14 all-time in bowl games. The Hokies have played in 17 straight bowl games - going 8-9 - since Beamer took over the program, including three Orange Bowl appearances.
Etc.: Harbaugh has made some very critical comments about the Bowl system recently, especially in regard to the preference of choosing teams with fanbases that travel well and therefore bring in the most money. Many wonder if this will be his last game on the Stanford sidelines with higher-profile programs and NFL teams already calling.