Bourbon Shots: Virginia Tech vs. UVa Edition

A collection of links previewing tomorrow's game.

Around the ACC

ACC Football Pick’Em – 11/25/10 (ACC Blogger)
Brandon points out that the Hokies' offensive strength is the Hoos' defensive weakness. He picks the Hokies to roll up the rushing yards and their seventh consecutive win over UVa.

Picks at the wire: Week 13 (D1scourse)
Patrick Stevens thinks we'll roll, 42-13. Aaron Brooks isn't walking through that door.

Virginia Tech Beat Writers

Game preview: Is this still a rivalry? (Norm Wood)
Norm Wood calls the UVa game a "scheduling speed bump" of late for the Hokies. Mike London understands he needs to make the rivalry interesting again.

What VT-UVA means to the Hokies... (Kyle Tucker)
A collection of quotes from Frank Beamer and selected seniors about playing the Wahoos. My favorite quote is from Davon Morgan on the definition of a "Tech Guy": "You're looking at him." I'll miss Davon.

Reflecting on the Virginia Tech-Virginia rivalry (Mark Giannotto)
Giannotto calls the Hokie plays "semi-apathetic" to the rivalry and that they've needed motivation other than playing UVa to get up to play this game. I hope he's wrong.

Unknown Hokie finds solace as weekday warrior (Aaron McFarling)
For four years, walk-on and Cave Spring graduate Jeff Wardach has mimicked opponents to get Tech set for game day. This year, he's had the chance to live out his dream on Worsham Field, getting playing time against CMU and Duke.

Cavaliers don't know how to win (David Teel)
Teel says the key difference between the Hokies and Hoos this year is resiliency. The Hokies know they can win and the Hoos hope they can win.

The future for Tech’s secondary is now (Darryl Slater)
If Rashad Carmichael can't play Saturday, Tech's secondary will still be in good hands with Jayron Hosley and Kyle Fuller. The two figure to be Virginia Tech's two starting cornerbacks next season.

Hokies' Fuller a freshman rarity (Nathan Warters)
Fuller, a true freshman, is playing well beyond his years.

Virginia Tech Bloggers

Diehard Hokie expecting a teary-eyed Sandman (Hokie Annual)
Virginia Tech's punter, Brian Saunders, had to wait until his senior year to contribute on the field. However, he's helped the Hokies as a scout-team quarterback while patiently waiting his turn to take over their punting duties.

ANGRY WORDS (The Key Play)
Want some extra hatey Hate Week hate? Head on over to TKP where Joe goes into great detail what he wants to see out of the Hokies this weekend. Anything less that what's described here would be failure.

Cody and the Commonwealth Cup… (We Bleed Bourbon)
Hopefully our guys get the chance to pull a Grimm after this year's game.

Game Preview: #13 Virginia Tech vs. Virginia (Tech Sideline)
TSL has one idea to neutralize UVa's run game: Get a lead early. Tech has struggled early in games, allowing teams to keep the ball on the ground. If Tech starts off well, UVa will have to throw and that can only benefit the Hokies.

Game Preview - VT vs. UVa (Tech Super Fans)
TSF argues that the Hoos don't have anything to play for because the Hokies have already clinched the Coastal and UVa can't ruin their season.

Game 12: UVA (The North End Zone)
TNEZ wants to see Tyrod go out with a bang at Lane Stadium.

UVa Bloggers

Game preview: Virginia Tech (From Old Virginia)
Brendan says the Wahoos have to get a big game out of Keith Payne, keep the game close and catch the Hokies looking ahead to the ACC Championship Game. He says a low-scoring game favors UVa and a high-scoring game favors us, which is spot-on.

2010 Football Previews–Virginia Tech (Dear Old U.Va.)
Finally, I present this guy's comment, without comment: "Frankly, Tyrod Taylor’s career has been somewhat disappointing. Not really from a standpoint of success, because he has won a lot of games. The truth is that Taylor hasn’t really progressed over his career. He is essentially the same player as a senior that he was as a freshman. I think it is safe to say that the Hokies expected more after the start he had."