2013 Virginia Tech Football: What To Watch Vs. Alabama

• As I said in the Game Guide:

On defense, Alabama announces publicly that it runs a 3-4 scheme, but often can be seen lining up in 4-3 as well.

In total defense, the Tide ranked No. 1 nationally, giving up just 250 yards per game. They also finished top in scoring defense, giving up 10.93 points per game.

The Crimson Tide also finished No. 1 in rushing defense, giving up 76.36 yards per game on the ground, and No. 7 nationally in passing defense, giving up 173.64 yards per game through the air.

• In 2012, the Hokies threw for an average of 230.92 passing yards per game, a total that ranked No. 64 nationally.
• The Hokies finished 2012 ranked No. 79 nationally in rushing offense with a lowly average (by their standards) of 145.85 yards per game.
• In total offense, the Hokies finished the 2012 season ranked No. 81 nationally with 376.77 yards per game.

Virginia Tech Defense vs. Alabama Offense

• As I said in the Game Guide:

Offensively, the Crimson Tide run a Pro-Style offense.

The Crimson Tide finished the 2012 season ranked No. 31 nationally in total offense with 445.5 yards per game.

They ranked No. 75 in the nation in passing offense with 218 yards per game.

The Tide also finished No. 16 nationally in rushing offense, with 227.5 yards per game.

Alabama returns a two-year starter in quarterback AJ McCaron. In 2012, McCaron passed for 2,933 yards and 30 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions while completing over 67 percent of his passes with a 175.3 passer rating which led the nation.

On the ground, the Tide's leading returning rusher is sophomore running back T.J. Yeldon, who rushed for 1,1o8 yards and 12 touchdowns with a 6.3 average last year as Alabama's second running back behind Eddie Lacy. Yeldon also caught 11 passes out of the backfield for 131 yards and a touchdown.

The Tide were also led by another freshman in the receiving corps a year ago in Amari Cooper, who pulled in 59 balls for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.

• The Hokies finished No. 18 nationally in total defense in 2012, allowing 333.15 yards per game.
• Against the ground attack, the Hokies finished No. 29 nationally, giving up 134.08 yards per game.
• Against the pass, Tech ranked No. 24 nationally, allowing 199.07 yards per game through the air.
• Tech allowed opponents to score 22.9 points per game in 2012, while Alabama scored an average of 38.7 points per game.