Michigan @ Virginia Tech preview

SUGAR BOWL STORYLINES

1. This will be the first BCS bowl game for No. 12 Michigan since the 2007 Rose Bowl, when it lost to USC. Virginia Tech is making its fourth BCS bowl appearance in five years.

2. Michigan and Virginia Tech rank seventh and eighth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 17.17 and 17.23 points per game respectively.

3. The schools, which are meeting for the first time, both sport losing bowl records. Michigan is 19-21 all-time, losing five of its last six bowl games, while Virginia Tech is 9-15. The Hokies lost to Stanford, 40-12, in the Orange Bowl last season.

4. Virginia Tech kicker Tyler Weiss was sent home for violating a team curfew prior to the Hokies' Sugar Bowl game against Michigan. Weiss failed to be present for a 1 a.m. bed check in New Orleans on Thursday, team spokesman Bryan Johnston said. Weiss was scheduled to play in the contest after kicker Cody Journell was arrested last week for his alleged involvement in a home invasion.

TV: ESPN. LINE: Michigan -2.5.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten): The Wolverines owe much of this year's revival to an improved, disruptive defense that ranks among the nation's best in several categories. Senior LB Brandon Herron has two of the unit's three touchdowns, returning a fumble and an interception for scores. Junior QB Denard Robinson (1,163 yards rushing, 16 TD) and sophomore RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (1,011 yards, 9 TD) have excelled behind an offensive line that features All-American C David Molk, the Rimington Trophy winner.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (11-2, 7-1 ACC): The Hokies, who have been perfect this season against teams not named Clemson, rank just 12th nationally in total yardage allowed (313.9). Junior RB David Wilson is the headliner on offense, ranking 12th nationally with 1,627 yards rushing (125.2 per game) and scoring 10 total touchdowns. Junior QB Logan Thomas has thrown for 2,799 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 416 yards and 10 more scores.

PREDICTION: Michigan 20, Virginia Tech 14 -- Look for the dynamic Robinson to give the Wolverines a slight edge and cap Brady Hoke's first year as head coach in fine fashion.