ACC champion will be team that can break the mold

By Lee Roberts  |   Thursday, December 04, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

College Football
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The Boston College Eagles and Virginia Tech Hokies have a lot in common. For the second year in a row, these Big East transplants will face off for the ACC championship. Football heritage isn’t the only thing the schools share. With lackluster quarterback play and stingy defenses, the teams are mirror images on the field. And the club that is able to produce from unexpected places will be crowned ACC champ.

A look at the ACC statistics bears out the similarities in the two teams. Defense is the hallmark of the Eagles and the Hokies. Boston College allows only 17.6 points per game while Virginia Tech gives up 17.9, good for second and third in the conference, respectively. In total defense, Virginia Tech leads the ACC by allowing only 274.5 yards per game. B.C. is right on its bumper, relinquishing 276.7 yards per game.

Traditional football wisdom says that to win you must be able to run the ball and stop your opponent from doing the same. Well, that adage couldn’t be more accurate when determining why these teams are playing for the ACC title. Virginia Tech is third in the ACC in rushing yards with 169.4 per game; on the other hand, Boston College is fourth with 151.7 yards. Defensively, Boston College is the stingiest against the run, allowing only 87.3 yards per game. Virginia Tech gives up 112.3 – good for second best in the conference.

So, basically, this game is shaping up to be the equivalent of an intra-squad scrimmage. Because of these similarities, each team will have to find innovative ways to move the ball and score points. And by "innovative," I mean throw the football.

When these teams squared off in October, Boston College was able to get some production out of the passing game and it proved to be the difference. Boston College turned the ball over five times, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, but still managed to win. The only real discrepancy in the game was in passing yards, where the Eagles dominated, 218-90.

In the six weeks since that game, Tyrod Taylor has continued to develop while Sean Glennon has been integrated into the offense. These changes should improve the Virginia Tech passing attack while Boston College has lost Chris Crane to injury. Now Boston College turns to redshirt freshman Dominique Davis to win the ACC championship game. He didn’t blow anyone away in his first start, against Maryland, but Davis also didn’t throw any interceptions to go with two touchdowns. Of course, there will be a little more pressure on Saturday.

Many people expect a tough, defensive battle in the ACC title game, which is probably what will happen. Both teams are stubborn and will try to establish a running game. However, the team that wins will be the one that can air it out the best.
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About Lee Roberts

Born in Richmond, Va, I moved south to UNC-Chapel Hill for college and received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I currently live in Charlotte, NC and cover Auburn, LSU and the ACC.
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