Virginia Tech Hokies and Alabama Crimson Tide Get it On in Premier NCAAF Betting Match-Up
By Jason Lucas • Sep 5th, 2009 • Category: NCAAF
Virginia Tech Hokies
(10-4/7-7 ATS in 2008)
(+6.5) |
 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
(12-2/9-5 ATS in 2008)
(-6.5) |
ABC will proudly present its first CFB betting primetime football telecast of the 2009-10 season when the #7 Virginia Tech Hokies and #5 Alabama Crimson Tide lock horns in the Georgia Dome at 8:00 ET. Currently, the Crimson Tide sit as 6.5-point neutral site favorites with the game ‘total’ set at a rather low 38 at JustBet Sportsbook.
HC Frank Beamer continues to get it done for the Hokies faithful on a yearly basis. 2009 was yet another double-digit winning season for VTECH as its 10-4 overall mark made it five straight, and seven of the L/9 years the program has won at least 10 games. The Hokies return 15 starters from last year’s club, and looks to be another force coming out of the ACC Coastal. The defense was once again a monster a year ago as it allowed just 16.7 PPG. The offense was a different story though, as it averaged a paltry 22.1 PPG overall; it suffered a horrendous injury recently when stud RB Darren Evans ripped apart his knee and he won’t suit up for the entirety of the upcoming season.
HC Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide came out of nowhere a year ago to win the SEC West. After winning a combined 13 games the previous two years, Alabama churned out an impressive 12-win ’08 campaign that saw it go the SEC Championship Game and Sugar Bowl. Though their only two losses came in their final games played, 2008 is still considered a success for the program and their CFB betting backers that went 9-5 ATS overall. This club has some nice pieces on offense, but the defense will be what gets the job done for BAMA in ’09. Nine starters return from a unit that surrendered just 14.3 PPG and just 264 total YPG.
As attractive the Hokies look getting nearly a TD, we’ll be riding Bama in this spot. And no, it’s not because they came to this exact venue a year ago and spanked another ACC team (Clemson). It has more to do with the SEC’s better overall speed and talent as witnessed in Thursday night’s SC/NCST game. This game will undoubtedly be dominated by both clubs defenses. That said; I truly think Alabama has the better pieces on offense to wear the Hokies defense down enough to scratch out a double-digit victory. In watching VTECH’s offense a year ago, it only really got going once RB Evans found his groove. It’s going to get real ugly watching QB Taylor trying to pass against this defense on 3rd and long all night. Trust me, you’re gonna want to be on Bama in this battle of conference heavyweights!
Selection: Alabama Crimson Tide (-6.5)
Jason Lucas is a first year staff writer for North Shore Sports, INC. The easiest place to find Jason is in the stands at University of Central Florida basketball and football games where he has spent many days since his childhood. Jason has attended thousands of sporting events in his life including the 2008 World Series and 2007 Daytona 500.
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