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2010 Virginia Tech Football: James Madison Game Guide

By furrer4heisman
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Virginia Tech vs. James Madison

Time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
Date: Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010
Place: Lane Stadium/Worsham Field (66,233), Blacksburg, Va.
TV: None (ESPN3.com)

James Madison: The Dukes are 1-0 after opening their season with a 48-7 win over Morehead State out of the Pioneer League ... JMU will be without back-up QB Justin Thorpe, who hyperextended his left knee in the first half of Saturday's game ... Thorpe, a sophomore, was last year's CAA rookie of the year after taking after starter Drew Dudzik suffered a fractured foot in the team's fifth game of 2009 ... the more athletic Thorpe was expected to split time with Dudzik this season ... against Morehead, the Dukes ran the ball 61 times and only threw it 15 times as they dominated time of possession in the first half ... they averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 12.6 yards per pass attempt against the Eagles ... last year, JMU lost to Maryland in overtime, 38-35.

Trends: James Madison has lost to an ACC opponent each of the last three seasons (2009 vs. Maryland, 2008 vs. Duke, 2007 vs. UNC) ... the Hokies have won 14 consecutive home openers ... their last loss in a home opener was in 1995 when they opened the season with a 20-14 loss to BC ... Virginia Tech has won 13 of its last 14 home games ... the Hokies have won 32 consecutive non-conference home games dating back to a 36-32 loss to UVa in 1998.

History Lesson: The Hokies are 6-0 all-time against JMU and 5-0 against it under Frank Beamer ... the two teams last met in 2003, when the Hokies won, 43-0 ... in the last two meetings, the Hokies have out-scored the Dukes, 90-0 ... JMU last scored against Virginia Tech in a 49-20 game in 1992.

What to Expect

  • I fully expect the Hokies to come out flat. Disappointing defeat, five days to prepare, FCS opponent, it's a bad combination. Look at how poorly FSU played in its second game last season. After losing a shootout to Miami, the Noles had five days to prepare for Jacksonville State and needed two touchdowns in the game's final minute to win 19-9.
  • Expect the Dukes to still try and establish the run even though Thorpe is out. Dudzik isn't an immobile quarterback so they'll still try some of the same things you'd expect if Thorpe was under center.
  • Expect the Hokies to try and establish their own run game after struggling against Boise State on the ground.
Hokies win if: They don't let Boise State beat them twice.

Dukes win if: They don't turn the ball over, get some breaks and catch the Hokies while their still down from the tough loss last week.

Dot-dot-dots:  Former Hokie J.C. Price is JMU's defensive line coach and coordinates its defensive run game ... Tyrod Taylor moved into sixth all-time on the Hokies' career passing yardage list ... Ryan Williams' 44 yards rushing against Boise State was the lowest total of his career ... Tech is now 1-3 when Williams is held under 100 yards.

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