Matchup – Michigan vs Virginia Tech
Road to the Sugar Bowl – Michigan: It is well publicized, but Michigan stunk the last few years. Since its epic loss to Ohio St. with a trip to the National Title Game on the line in 2006, the Wolverines have been bad. Then came new coach Brady Hoke. With him came less changes than expected to a good offense and a defense that found a pulse. With that defense came a 10-2 season that probably should have been one better (how did Michigan lose to Iowa?) and an at-large berth to the Sugar Bowl for its suffering fanbase that was key to the whole bowl situation considering nearly every bowl in the country would be falling over themselves to get Michigan this season after the last few years.
Road to the Sugar Bowl – Virginia Tech: Beat nobody at all (only Georgia Tech even had a pulse), win a weak division in a weak conference, get roasted by the best team on the schedule twice and get a massive favor done for them. Seriously, the Virginia Tech schedule was an embarrassment this year. There is a reason I picked them to go to the National Title game in the preseason and quality of team wasn't that reason. And if not for Clemson being much better than expected (and banishing at least some of the Clemson demons in big games), there is a very good chance I would have been right. Thankfully, the Hokies ended up here, even if it was undeserved and not in the National Title game with a 13-0 record against a weaker schedule than Boise St.
Michigan offense vs Virgtinia Tech defense: Advantage Michigan
Last I saw, the Virginia Tech defense was getting stomped by the Clemson offense. Michigan's offense is near the same caliber and runs the same type of system. The reality is that Virginia Tech is ill-equipped to deal with spread type teams of any type and Clemson was the only one with high level personnel the Hokies played. Expect this to look more like those game instead of the grinding defense first games we normally expect from the Hokies defense.
Virginia Tech offense vs Michigan defense: Advantage Michigan
The Virginia Tech offense was much better than usual this season. David Wilson is a very good running back and Logan Thomas, while still developing, turned in a fine first season as a starter. That said, Wilson can't do it alone and first year starters in bowl games can get overwhelmed because of the xtra scheming that can happen with the time off. Given a year, Thomas shreds most defenses (look out everyone next season). Right now, he will have his moments, but the formerly maligned Michigan defense will generally bottle things up like it did against Nebraska and Ohio St. (at least in the 2nd half).
Final Verdict: Virginia Tech is the most overrated team in all of college football. It is also the most undeserving of all the BCS teams this season (including West Virginia). That is generally a bad combination, especially against a team that appears to be underrated because some of the voters can't get the images of the Michigan defense being destroyed with the same players the last couple of years. With a fans firmly in Michigan's corner, I expect a great performance from the Wolverines to launch them into the beginning of next season and a hyped up season opener against Alabama.
Michigan 37, Virginia Tech 20
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