Florida State @ Virginia Tech preview
Bank of America Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 25, 2008 ) Virginia Tech 20, Florida State 30
Since a surprising stumble in Week 2, few teams have been as impressive as Virginia Tech, which has reeled off 10 wins a row. An old nemesis, Florida State, aims to halt a Hokies streak – again.
Virginia Tech (10-2, 8-0 ACC) and the Seminoles (9-3, 6-2) meet on Saturday in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte with an Orange Bowl berth at stake.
The teams faced each other in the first ACC title game in 2005 and also met in the national title game in 2000, both won by Florida State. But in recent years, Virginia Tech has become more of a national power while Florida State, after a few mediocre years and a coaching change, is now the upstart. Still, the Seminoles beat Virginia Tech in their last meeting 30-20 two seasons ago.
The No. 11 Hokies are making their fourth trip to the conference championship game. After losing in 2005, they beat Boston College in 2007 and 2008. No. 20 Florida State is making its first return trip to the title game.
Virginia Tech, which lost to Boise State in the season opener and then dropped a stunner to James Madison, has been unbeatable since. The athletic Tyrod Taylor has refined his game to become a complete quarterback, evidenced by him becoming the all-time leading passer for the Hokies. Taylor directs an offense that is averaging nearly 35 points a game.
His counterpart, Christian Ponder, also is a mobile quarterback capable of making big plays. Both have thrown 20 touchdowns on the season and for more than 2,000 yards.
Florida State averages just shy of 32 points a game. Statistically, the teams are extremely close in a number of categories, including scoring, rushing and passing, and the game could down to turnovers, where the edge has to go to the Hokies.
Under coach Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech is known for big plays via special teams and turnovers. They rank second in the nation with 20 interceptions. Taylor has been picked off only four times while Florida State has turned the ball over 20 times, with Ponder throwing eight interceptions.
Though the Seminoles and rookie head coach Jimbo Fisher are underdogs, they have to be feeling good entering the game. Not only has Florida State won its last three games, including convincing wins over Miami and Maryland, the ’Noles have beaten up on Beamer, who is 1-8 all-time against them.
Virginia Tech’s biggest advantage may be in the running game, where it has a wealth of weapons. Darren Evans leads the team with 748 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns and Taylor isn’t far behind with 613 yards. Sophomore David Wilson is a dangerous threat out of the backfield and on returns.
But against ACC opponents, Florida State allowed just 3.5 yards per carry and the defense has given up an average of 12 points in the last three games. Offensively, Chris Thompson leads the Seminoles’ rushing attack with 687 yards and a gaudy 6.9 average.
Virginia Tech’s 10-game winning streak is its longest since 2000 when it won 12 straight. That streak was broken by Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. The Seminoles are 4-0 against the Hokies at neutral sites.