William & Mary @ Virginia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2007 ) William & Mary 3, Virginia Tech 44

The last time Virginia Tech’s Michael Brewer started a football game was in 2010 the and last time William & Mary’s Steve Cluley started one was in 2011. When the Hokies host the Tribe on Saturday at 6 p.m., both quarterbacks will be under a microscope as they get their long-awaited opportunity. Both Brewer, a junior, and redshirt sophomore Cluley have a chance to be good from the outset as they are both surrounded by experienced weapons in their respective backfields and on the flanks.

Playing before a Lane Stadium crowd anxious to see the Hokies return to past excellence, there will be more pressure on Brewer, a Texas Tech transfer who has had little time to master a completely different offense than the spread he played in high school in Texas and with the Red Raiders. If Brewer is as quick a study on the field as he is in the classroom, he will spark an offense which has sputtered the last two seasons. Brewer came to Blacksburg this summer after needing just three years to get his degree in personal financial planning, thus his immediate eligibility.

TV: 4 p.m., ET, ESPNews. LINE: Virginia Tech -20

ABOUT WILLIAM & MARY (2013: 7-5): Cluley, who has thrown nine career passes, won the job over two even less-experienced candidates. Helping ease his way into the lineup will be last year’s top rusher, Mikal Abdul-Saboor (175 carries, 824 yards), and top receiver, Tre McBride (63 receptions, 801 yards), who is also a dangerous return man. The most disruptive defensive player is All-Colonial Athletic Association linebacker Airek Green, who tied for first on the team in tackles for a loss (13) and led in interceptions (three).

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (2013: 8-5): Taking some shine off the Hokies’ 21st straight bowl appearance (second-longest streak in nation) was Tech’s 42-12 thrashing at the hands of UCLA in the Sun Bowl. Brewer has some emerging weapons at his disposal in sophomore running back Trey Edmunds (166 carries, 675 yards) and wide receivers Willie Byrn (51 receptions, 660 yards), Dmitri Knowles (45 receptions, 641 yards) and Josh Stanford (41 receptions, 649 yards). Leading Bud Foster's young defense, which returns five starters, is versatile, playmaking Kendall Fuller (six interceptions) and tackle Luther Maddy (6.5 sacks).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Virginia Tech’s 67-year-old Frank Beamer (27th year) and William & Mary’s 66-year-old Jimmye Laycock (35th year), both graduates of their respective schools, are the longest-tenured coaches, respectively, in the FBS and FCS.

2. Virginia Tech leads the series 40-18-4, with only one of the games coming during the Beamer Era, a 44-3 Hokies victory in 2007.

3. In recent openers against FBS teams, William & Mary upset Virginia, 26-14 in 2009 and suffered narrow losses to Maryland (7-6) in 2012 and West Virginia (24-17) last year.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 26, William & Mary 17