Thursday Night Throwdown- VT at ECU

Can Virginia Tech avenge an upset loss to East Carolina from a year ago?

THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWN
11-05-09

ALL TIMES EASTERN

The Main Event
Virginia Tech at East Carolina

TV: ESPN
Time: 7:30
Line: Virginia Tech -13.

Importance of the game to Virginia Tech: The Hokies are bitterly disappointed after consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and East Carolina. There is still an outside shot at an at-large BCS bid, but that is pretty unlikely at this point. Right now, the Hokies just need to win to start feeling good about themselves again and to get themselves in a position to be a title contender next year. Plus, they’d like to avenge last season’s loss to the Pirates.
Importance of the game to East Carolina: The Pirates are one win from bowl eligibility. After last year’s upset of the Hokies, they can really earn a name on the national scale with a nationally televised home win over Virginia Tech. East Carolina is the favorite in Conference USA’s Eastern Division and can help their name brand and the conference’s name brand with a win over the Hokies Thursday night.

Breakdown
Virginia Tech Offense vs. East Carolina Defense: The Hokies offense relies heavily on Ryan Williams, who is averaging 5.7 yards per rush with ten rushing touchdowns. He could be a Heisman contender if the team were playing a little bit better right now. Tyrod Taylor has been a bit disappointing. He’s completed 56 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. His leading receiver is Jarrett Boykin, who has 24 catches for 17.3 yards per reception and three touchdowns. Taylor is averaging 2.2 yards per rush with three rushing touchdowns. Taylor has running abilities, but sometimes relies on that to get him out of trouble, and that just gets him into more trouble. The offensive line has allowed 22 sacks on the season. The Pirates are averaging 3.4 yards per rush. However, opponents are completing 63.4 percent of their passes. They are allowing 11.4 yards per reception with twelve touchdowns, but eleven interceptions. They have come up with fourteen sacks on the season. Linval Joseph leads the team with three sacks. Van Eskridge is second on the team in tackles, and leads the team with three interceptions. Nick Johnson leads the team in tackles, and has two interceptions. The Hokies offense will need to rely on Taylor to make some plays against this defense. He is capable of making the big play in a game like this.

East Carolina Offense vs. Virginia Tech Defense: Pat Pinkney is leading the Pirates at quarterback. He is completing 57.1 percent of his passes and has thrown eight touchdowns. The problem is the nine interceptions that Pinkney has thrown. Dwayne Harris has more than double the number of catches of any other player on the team. He has 47 catches for 11.1 yards per reception with three touchdowns. Dominique Lindsay leads the team with 99 carries and 5.8 yards per rush. He ran for 139 dominating yards against Memphis last week. The offensive line has allowed eight sacks on the season. The Hokies defense has been good against the pass, allowing opponents to complete 46.4 percent of their passes for 12.6 yards per completion with seven touchdowns allowed and eight interceptions. However, they are allowing 4.0 yards per rush, which is not up to the Hokies standard. They have already come up with seventeen sacks on the season. Nekos Brown and Jason Worilds lead the team with three and a half sacks. Barquell Rivers leads the team with 71 tackles. Rashad Carmichael leads the team with four interceptions. Pinkney will struggle to make plays throwing the football, but Lindsay may have some real success running the ball against the Hokies defense that has struggled to slow down the run.

Prediction: Sniff. Sniff. Call me crazy, but this smells like an upset. Yes, the Hokies should be fired up to get revenge for last year’s upset loss, but they are reeling right now and this game just does not mean as much to Virginia Tech as it does to East Carolina. The teams are much more similar than the spread would indicate, particularly with the game being at East Carolina. Look for the Pirates to make one big play in the fourth quarter that wins it. East Carolina 24, Virginia Tech 19.


Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or just want to talk college football, feel free to e-mail me at [e-mail].