Bourbon Shots: 2010 ACC Championship Game Edition

I'm nervous because EVERYONE is picking us.

Face the Nation

ACC Title Game Preview (ACC Sports Journal)
Rob Daniles picks the Hokies in a close game. He expects the Noles to come into the game confident, but for Virginia Tech to bear-down on defense. He points to Chris Thompson, Markus White, Jarrett Boykin and Steven Friday as players to watch.

Any more twists left in topsy-turvy season? (Tony Barnhart)
Barnhart expects the Hokies to keep chugging along and take home their fourth ACC championship.

Picks at the wire: ACC title game (D1scourse)
Stevens thinks the Seminoles are much better than the ACC teams the Hokies have faced so far, but he expects the Hokies to follow the same script they've been following to capture the ACC title.

Quarterback Keeper (FSN Carolinas)
The sixth edition of the ACC Championship Game will be a shoot-out between two quarterbacks who have a long-standing history. 

Virginia Tech Beat Writers

ACC coaches analyze Hokies, Seminoles for ACCCG (David Teel)
Teel asks opposing ACC coaches to break down this week's matchup anonymously. One expects the Noles to attack the Hokies' defense with shorter routes. Another thinks the Hokies should have success against the Noles' D if they can protect Tyrod.

Newsome and Stinespring on Changes in FSU D (Darryl Slater)
The Hokies' offensive coaches break down FSU's defense under first-year coordinator Mark Stoops. The difference between this year's Noles D and last year's is pretty amazing.

VT's beat-up receiving corps could shine vs. FSU (Mark Giannotto)
All of our receivers are injured. However, they'll have to find a way to somehow get open against a very young, but very talented FSU secondary.

Protecting Taylor a big key for Tech (Nathan Warters)
A lot of the focus will be on Tyrod Taylor in Saturday's game, but the offensive line's ability to stop FSU's pass rush and open holes for the Hokies' running backs will ultimately be what decides this game.

Tech O-line set when push comes to shove (Randy King)
Tech Tech offensive line, much maligned at the beginning of the season, has been a microcosm for Tech's fight to 10-2. As the O-line has improved, so have the Hokies. They'll have to be on their game against a very fast FSU front seven.

Va. Tech's dynamic playmaker also a dapper jokester (Kyle Tucker)
KT profiles David Wilson, who as we all know owns more ties than you and is permitted to dine at Chick-fil-a on Sundays. Plenty of awesome anecdotes on Wilson in this one.

Hokies looks to clinch BCS berth (Collegiate Times)
The Hokies and Seminoles are used to facing each other on big stages. Saturday night will be no different, although one familiar face will be missing from the FSU sideline.

Virginia Tech Bloggers

I Don't Fear the Spear (The Key Play)
Joe wanted this matchup and looks for Tyrod Taylor to enter Godzilla-mode and lead the Hokies to another ACC title.

ACC Championship Game Guide (VT Campus Blog)
Former Gobbler Country scribe Josh Parcell will be in Charlotte covering the game. He expects Ryan Williams and Darren Evans to carry the load for the Hokies and the Hokies defense to do all they can to put pressure on Christian Ponder.

DC Real’s Week Fourteen Countdown (We Bleed Bourbon)
The Bleed Bourbon guys break down this game as only they can. Real analysis: The team that makes the fewest mistakes wins. Better analysis: Squirrels playing with tin foil are distracting.

#12 Virginia Tech vs. #20 Florida State (Tech Sideline)
TSL is more worried about the Hokies than the Noles this week. For the first time in a while everyone is expecting them to win a big game under the lights. Tech's troubles in big-time games still doesn't keep them from picking the Hokies to win a close one.

Florida State Bloggers

ACC Championship Preview: FSU at VT (Tomahawk Nation)
Bud takes the Noles and has this to say to Hokie fans: "If you're a fan of Virginia Tech, enjoy this game as well. It's likely the best chance the Hokies will have to beat FSU in a championship-game setting for a while."

ACC Championship Game Gut Reaction Prediction (Scalp Em)
NoleCC says everything that was plaguing the Hokies early in the year, including a lack of identity, has been corrected. However, he takes the Noles because it's Virginia Tech that has all the pressure on it. He says FSU will play loose and the Hokies may tighten up.

ACC Championship Game Preview (Plant the Spear)
The folks at Plant the Spear write that the Hokies are the only thing standing between the Noles and the final goal they have left to cross off their list. If FSU can win the ACC title, they will return to the top spot in the conference in Jimbo Fisher's first year.

Virginia Tech Preview (Chant Rant)
Chant Rant notes the teams have very similar defenses in that they don't have the greatest stats, but force stops when they need to. They have Tech winning a close one because of its ground game.