Okay, its here… the start of a new football season, one of the biggest games in VT history, a BCS caliber kickoff game between two top 10 teams, everybody gets laid, free hat, etc, etc…

Virginia Tech starts the season with a huge target on their back with a #7 preseason rank. The team has a chance to address the lofty rank and quiet would-be ACC naysayers this Saturday night when they take on Alabama at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The scenario may seem oddly familiar since this is the same stage in which an over-hyped Clemson team fell to Alabama at the start of season last year, but this year there is a new cast representing our conference and the stakes seem much more real as both teams are ranked higher than Clemson’s 2008 preseason rank of 9th place (Alabama was 24th).

Breaking down the game, USA Today shows a spread favoring Alabama by 6.5 points (a 1.5 point jump from the opening line when we had a healthy Darren Evans on the roster) with an over/under of 38. These are some pretty big number considering we are dealing with two very strong defenses between the two schools.

Analysts who believe Alabama will have the edge probably think that Tyrod Taylor and his supporting cast will have a tough time moving the ball down the field against such a strong defense. In response, let’s not ignore the fact that Alabama was less than spectacular at holding back Utah in their BCS bowl game at the end of last season. Granted our offense is not as potent as Utah’s “score happy and procreate later” style of play, but in front of a crowd of screaming ‘Bama alumni and one super-extended Mormon family, the Utes managed to score 21 unanswered points in the first quarter and go on to win handily against a favored team.

Only the Jonas Brothers were able to fill the Superdome with more screaming preteens

To win, the Hokies need to make a crimson turd out of Alabama’s quarterback Greg McElroy and make sure that any balls that do make in to air come amidst heavy pressure. If the new QB can’t get in to a rhythm with his receivers it will hopefully allow VT to create some turnovers and score in the fashion we do best. As for offense, perhaps losing Evans has a silver lining for this game… Evans, who was coming off an MVP performance in the Orange Bowl, was probably at the top of most of Capt. Predictable’s (Stinespring) play call charts. Since Alabama has a very strong front seven we may have saved a few 3-and-out drives by avoiding the “run up the middle and its gotta work” mentality. With a good mixture of plays that address the running game shuffle and that utilize Tyrod’s athletic ability to move around and down the field with his arm and legs we may be able to keep Alabama’s defense from locking in.

Alabama recently extended Nick Saban’s contract until 2090 when he is expected to coach from a bright red coffin adorned with a wireless headset.  His mind may be thinking long term at this point, he has already mentioned how important this game is to ensure his National Championship path. More importantly his team may think that an ACC opener is a walk in the park after last year’s pillow fight with Clemson. It is a Clemson team that also may have some doubt after looking like a distant SEC second when they lost to Utah back in January. Hopefully these things combine to offset the team’s ability to really prepare for what might as well be a BCS bowl game. The momentum from Virginia Tech’s bowl win carries over while the hangover lingers just another week for the Crimson Tide and the Hokies start off the season 1-0.

Score Prediction: Virginia Tech 24, Alabama 14