Our offense isn’t able to keep up with Florida, Texas, USC and the other perennial powerhouses. Our D will stand strong as it always does, but we would need Tyrod and or offense to kick it into gear before we should even dream about being considered for a national championship contender.

Historically we have never needed a great offense to compete with those guys. What we have needed for a few years now, a running game and a solid offensive line, seem to be in place. Tyrod is the key to greatness for our offense because he is a wild card kind of player, but as long as we do what has made Tech a great program — run the ball down the opponents throat — we will win the big ones.
Our D will be solid rapidly, probably out of the gate. Tech in famous (or, I should say, infamous) for take-a-ways, scoring with the D, goal line stances (see Orange Bowl), and punishing QBs and RBs into submission. I see no reason why that will change this year.
I think the Special Teams will be great as usual, but since Frank has opened everyone’s eyes about the importance of that aspect of football, I think the days of blocking a kick/punt/pat every game are over. Still, we do it at least 4+ times a year.
I guess to make a long story short (too late!!), I predict the Hokies to win the Coastal Division, ACC, and whatever bowl we go to. There is a good chance that we will be in the hunt for the National Championship, but I think that this year it is an outside shot. Our schedule, while favorable because the harder games are generally in Blacksburg, is tough…very tough. It would be a near miracle to go undefeated. Still, this will be the best team we’ve had in years.
If not? I’ll still be in the stands for every home game and almost every away game, cheering on our boys.

still get in the National Title hunt even with a loss on September 5th. VT would have to be perfect (after the loss) since VT doesn’t have as tough a schedule as Bama (especially if it was a Florida vs. Bama SECCG repeat). Historically, VT has done bad when ranked high with high expectations, but I think the game in Atlanta will really set the tone for the rest of the season for the winner (whoever it may be). I’ll be very interested in this game as I grew up in southwest Virginia (now living in Birmingham, AL) and have plenty of friends that went to VT.

I think that both offenses may have problems with the opposing defenses; however, Bama is bringing back a ton of people on defense and has a freshman class coming in that could be as good or better than last years. Roll Tide!

Cubs Fans lighting up this thread. I believe that if Tyrod stays healthy, VT will have no problem winning the ACC again.

but this team doesnt stick out to me as a NC caliber team, compared to some of our teams in the past, whether it be the Vick teams, or the 07 team with Glennon, Ore, Royal, Morgan, XAdibi, VInce Hall, and Macho not to mention so many other very solid players this team just doesnt stick out to me as a legitimate National Championship contender