2008 Woodie Awards
Separation Saturday Part II: Week 9 of College Football
Zack Gugenheim
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Sports
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# 2 Boston College @ # 8 Virginia Tech
Well, the weekend starts early, as this game is on a Thursday Night, but we'll forgive the ACC this once. Although this game is being touted as the biggest game of the week, I just don't think it will live up to the hype. Everyone is saying that Boston College is going to lose a close game to the Hokies, but I just don't see it happening this week. Virginia Tech is playing at home, and they have one of the best atmospheres in college football. Their defense has played well, and they always have great special teams. They also have one of the worst offenses in the country, ranking 112th in total yards. Looking at Boston College, they have a Heisman Trophy candidate in senior quarterback Matt Ryan, who has thrown for 17 touchdowns and 6 Interceptions. Their defense is good enough to hold the non-threatening Hokie offense, and they have a running game decent enough to set up play-action pass. I just don't think this will be a good game, but it will be a chance for Ryan to have a Heisman showcase game.
Prediction: Boston College 24, Virginia Tech 13
# 1 Ohio State @ # 25 Penn State
This is another one of those games in which everyone thinks it will be close, and that Penn State will win and finally end the talk of Ohio State returning to the National Championship Game. My question is, how will Penn State move the ball? Morelli is improving, but he isn't as good as Locker, Hoyer, Bacher, and Painter, and those are all quarterbacks the Buckeyes have shut down. The Buckeyes also just shut down the best rushing attack in the Big Ten, and possibly in the country in Michigan State. Not to mention, I believe the Nittany Lions are vulnerable against the run. If they allow running back Chris "Beanie" Wells to run the ball even half as well as he did against Michigan State, they will lose big. If linebacker Dan Conner and the PSU defense can force turnovers, they can win this game; but even if they do, they have to make sure not give away the ball, and unfortunately they have Anthony Morelli vs. the Buckeye Defense.
Well, the weekend starts early, as this game is on a Thursday Night, but we'll forgive the ACC this once. Although this game is being touted as the biggest game of the week, I just don't think it will live up to the hype. Everyone is saying that Boston College is going to lose a close game to the Hokies, but I just don't see it happening this week. Virginia Tech is playing at home, and they have one of the best atmospheres in college football. Their defense has played well, and they always have great special teams. They also have one of the worst offenses in the country, ranking 112th in total yards. Looking at Boston College, they have a Heisman Trophy candidate in senior quarterback Matt Ryan, who has thrown for 17 touchdowns and 6 Interceptions. Their defense is good enough to hold the non-threatening Hokie offense, and they have a running game decent enough to set up play-action pass. I just don't think this will be a good game, but it will be a chance for Ryan to have a Heisman showcase game.
Prediction: Boston College 24, Virginia Tech 13
# 1 Ohio State @ # 25 Penn State
This is another one of those games in which everyone thinks it will be close, and that Penn State will win and finally end the talk of Ohio State returning to the National Championship Game. My question is, how will Penn State move the ball? Morelli is improving, but he isn't as good as Locker, Hoyer, Bacher, and Painter, and those are all quarterbacks the Buckeyes have shut down. The Buckeyes also just shut down the best rushing attack in the Big Ten, and possibly in the country in Michigan State. Not to mention, I believe the Nittany Lions are vulnerable against the run. If they allow running back Chris "Beanie" Wells to run the ball even half as well as he did against Michigan State, they will lose big. If linebacker Dan Conner and the PSU defense can force turnovers, they can win this game; but even if they do, they have to make sure not give away the ball, and unfortunately they have Anthony Morelli vs. the Buckeye Defense.