I really feel that if both team bring their A game, we will win by 2 scores. Maybe I am biased but here is how I see the advantages based on a season full of evidence:

Tech OLine vs. UVA DLine: From games 1-4, I would have given UVA the overwhelming advantage. Games 5-11, we have the advantage. UVA did not do to great of a job stopping GTech, ND and Liberty on the ground and UNC gashed them. Meanwhile, we had success against Miami, WF, GTech, UNC and the Jet sweep and TE sweep killed Pitt.

Tech WR vs UVA Defense: Should I even state what is obvious?? Hands down, this is a matchup that overwhelmingly favors the Hokies, not even close. We must exploit this matchup. Tre Turner killed their secondary last year when they had both Bryce Hall and Thornhill. Add Robinson, Hazelton, Keene who showed up big last year and made Hall look weak when he snatched that Hail Mary out of the sky, and Mitchell as both a running and passing threat, and UVA secondary is just outmatched. Now this does not mean that this secondary cannot step us in front of a home crowd and play the game of their lives, but if our receivers are focused and both our receivers and their DB's play at their optimum levels, this matchup is not even close.

Hooker vs. Perkins: Some of you will think that I am committing the sin of blasphemy but I honestly see this matchup as being even. Perkins has more experience and no one doubt how dangerous Perkins can be. He can make the difference. But teams like Miami, ND and Louisville revealed that if contained, he was human and UVA offense was stressed in all of those games. FSU, ODU and GTech defenses played him tough but at times were undisciplined and he did damage to those defenses. Liberty, Duke, UNC and William and Mary had no clue so he torched them. Bud knows how to contain him and our athletes on defense can get after him. We do not necessarily need to send pressure because I believe our front four can pressure him. But we can not miss tackles when we get the chance to hit him and we must take good angles. Our speed on defense is as equivalent to Miami and FSU (although FSU undiscipline made Perkins a star) and they did present him some problems. Regarding Hooker, this is the best QB UVA has faced outside of Sam Howard (UNC) but Hooker is a run threat in addition to passer with very good receivers. Do not be surprised if Hooker has an "off the chain" incredible game in a national setting as all of the love, focus and the stage will be giving to Perkins.

Tech DLine against UVA OLine: I feel this is a duh as well (like Tech WR vs UVA DB's). Our defense has improved so dramatically and it really looks like a Bud Foster lunch pail defense again. We are not giving up the big plays that have nagged us in the past couple of seasons. We have not seen RB's gashing us for huge yards. Outside of Duke and episodes of struggles against BC, Miami (giving up a few big passing plays) and UNC, our defense has dominated. On the flip side, UVA offensive line has been beaten like drums against competitive defensive fronts where Perkins at times have taken a physical beating and the running game for UVA scares no one, granted they had good performances against Duke, William and Mary and Liberty. Our DLine has been able to generate pressure without the need of the blitz. So without a doubt, clear advantage, Tech.

Tech Linebacker play vs. UVA run and pass: I feel the that outside of Miami, FSU and perhaps ND, Tech LB's are the best UVA has faced all year. We can bring pressure and our LB has improved in defending the pass. If I can include Connor as a potential LB based on his alignment and assignment, along with Alan Tisdale, we can definitely take away their TE's and backs out of the passing game but their (Connor and Tisdale) biggest plus this game will be how they are utilized to take away Perkins threat.

Tech Secondary vs UVA receiver: I feel that this matchup is even maybe slight advantage to us based on the play of Farley and Waller at the CB position. Deablo and Floyd are not the best man coverers but they are darn good safeties and they can make a difference this game with their run support and over the top coverage. The reason why I see this as being even is that Joe Reed is a big-time player, but here is the deal, Tech has played against much better or equivalent receiver units in Wake Forest (much better) , UNC, Miami and Rhode Island (even or slightly better than UVA). Outside of Reed, I do not see the speed threat on the outside that Tech has to contend with from UVA.

Special Teams: All I need to say is Oscar Bradburn and Tavion Robinson. Now I know the threat of Joe Reed and maybe Kemp, but from the kicking perspective, field position can be huge and Oscar may make the difference. Field Goals are washes regarding both teams and I am sure that neither team hope that their FG kicker decides the fate of this game.

Coaching: I believe Tech has the advantage. Fuente (Offensive guru) has yet to lose to Mendenhall (Defensive guru) and Foster has owned UVA, period regardless of whomever was the Head Coach (Welch, Groh, London and Mendenhall).

Conclusion: Tech needs to be focused, disciplined and fired-up and if we are, I believe that we will win hands down. Take away the talent comparison which I feel favors us, UVA has to buy into the notion that they can beat us. Our players have no doubt about rather we can beat them and the danger we have is being overconfident (i.e., ODU). UVA has the pressure to break the streak and maybe this will give them motivation; while, our players have the pressure but also the motivation to keep the streak alive. Since football is an emotional game and UVA will be "plenty of fired up" in front of a "band wagon" occasional fired up Hoo's crowd, I believe that if we jump on them early, they will begin to doubt. I just feel that if both teams bring their A games and everyone remains healthy (intangible) throughout the game, I like our matchups nearly at ever position including the coaching in this game.


[Post edited by hokieshayes at 11/25/2019 4:19PM]