While the Aggies have a good defense, the Hokies have an outstanding defense too. The Aggies don't have anyone on offense equal to Suggs or Jones. Also, the Hokies have the best special teams in the country. The only reason its at 2.5 is because its in Texas. While homefield is huge, Va Tech is a top 10 team.....I just think the spread should be larger.
Bookies typically grant a 3-pt cushion for the home team in pro football, I think a strong case could be made for a larger cushion in a college game with a strong home crowd (such as A$M). Let's call it a 5-pt. cushion. So in other words, if this game were played at a neutral site, VT would be favored by 7.5, and if the game were played at VT, the Hokies would be favored by 12.5. Kyle Field is keeping the line down, and I'm hoping to use this to my advantage this week. Typically Baylor is my big game to play (I always bet against them -- Tulsa stinks though this week), but this week I just may throw that money against the Ags. woof!
A win against Va. Tech would unequivocally NOT guarantee RC's status next year. A new AD will be hired in January. New ADs with new university Presidents tend to clean house and put their own people in charge.
What about Mike Stoops? I know he's a DC, but he would energize the whole fanbase. Kubiak would do the same seeing that he is an alum, but would Kubiak be able to recruit nationally? The Ags need a recruiter. The Stoops Bros. making Mack's life hell...
That's a damn good point. I do think that Kubiak would be able to effectively recruit. He young enough to still be able to relate to these kids on some level. That is really important when you don't have a lot of recruiting experience. Also he's offensively minded. So long as he has a good DC, A&M's defense tradition will carry a lot of recruiting weight. An offensive minded head coach will then be able to resurrect the offense. But if we wound up hiring Mike Stoops...I sure wouldn't complain.
Huh? I agree that McNeal turns nothing into something... That is what he is all about. What I wonder/doubt, is that he would actually start. Either way, he gets PT.
Excellent post, here. This is exactly what I was thinking about earlier on this game. These 2 teams are very damn similar, but Tech has WAY too many athletes for A&M to contend with. Oh, and wasn't Florida a 2.5 favorite over Miami?? We all know how that turned out. Boy, those bookies are damn geniuses, aren't they??
Wow. Look at all this Aggie football talk. This is actually kind of cool. From what I know (and as always, my info is first hand legit...from the days of Chris Simms complaining to his dad about rude Longhorn fans to the days of UT players smokin pot way before anyone knew...but that was UT, and my connection there is pretty much lost...except for the fact that Roy Williams left his crutches at my crib and my roomate took tham back to Htown).... Dustin Long is suspected to be the starter by most of the players that I know...but know one knows for sure. And I really didn't care except for the fact that the peoples I was with kept asking for all this info. Sometimes, friends from different groups just don't mix. Damn, sometimes I hate this football fanatic place. Now I have admitted this many times before: my football IQ is average. I know what football is...but not much more. But I have been to every game this year so far (which is a first...by the way, I still think football is much less fun than hoops) and from my perspective, Long can throw good, much better than Farris. AND MANNY: I disagree with you about A&M not having athletes. If you've ever hooped with my boys, hung out, lifted, whatever, whatever...I'm just trying to tell you that We here have REAL ATHLETES...super cut, super fast, super strong, agile, hard-working. At almost every collegiate sport here (except for women's archery), I would consider them to be the epitome of an ATHLETE. My prediction: I have no ****** clue. I would not be surprised if VaTech blows it up. I would not be surprised if A&M wins. I just hope the game is fun to watch. Parting notes: good luck to Donny, Jai, TT, DD, Q, Cutt, Brandon, Derek, Randall, John, Jon, Linis. And what the heck is Hokie?
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if A&M won this game. I have learned this many times over the years... never underestimate the Aggies at Kyle Field. No matter what the talent looks like, those guys absolutely play inspired football in big games at home. I think, for the most part, that A&M's defense can contain VT, and their special teams are usually strong. If A&M's defense commits to stopping the run, I think they have the personnel to do it, even against Virginia Tech. The corners are good enough to leave occasionally in single coverage and not be burned for a TD. That being said, I think VT is just too good... I think they catch the Aggies late with a playaction pass for a big gain to put it away. But, I wouldn't be surprised if it's close for a long while, like OU in 2000. Also, if McNeal can come in and make some plays with his feet, that will be a tremendous boost to the Ags. Usually, a fast QB who can make something out of those nothing plays really catches a strong defense offguard. Look at Darian Durant against Texas last weekend for an example. VT 17 Aggies 13
You must not be familiar with A&M's defense. I believe they're currently leading the nation against the run, and their secondary was ranked as one of the best in the nation coming into the season. Also, their offense has several athletic players, the problem is they just can't catch the ball, can't block, and the coach hasn't been able to put in a good offensive system in a decade. I just seriously find it hard to believe that VTech is THAT superior as far as athelticism goes. The thing that gives them the advantage is that they have a good offense to go along with their defense...the Aggies don't. All I know is I went to every A&M home game for four years straight. My first three years I didn't witness a single loss. The Aggies have one of the best home field advantages in the nation...I'd say probably top 5. It would be very tough for me to bet against them at home.
I think given the chance Farmer can be a very very good back. He doesnt have the size of toombs or anything, but he is very fast. Now if RC could learn to Utilize Farmers speed we would be set
The problem is, Virginia Tech puts Suggs and Jones to VERY good use. I just can't wait for this game. (I'm a Tech fan, if you haven't noticed)
2 excellent backs against one of the best defenses in the nation...one that employs a 3-4 no less. A great defense against the run.
The point spread is designed to ensure equal betting on both teams. It's not so much a prediction by the bookies as to who will win; it's more like a median point that will encourage the greatest number of bets on both sides of the ledger. So it doesn't have much to do with how much the bookies know about college football as much as it has to do with how much they know about bettors. At least, that's how I've had it explained to me. And I believe we're two games into the season. A&M has played Louisiana-Laugher and Pitt, a team not known for its power running game under Walt Harris. I'll go with the Aggies, 20-10. Not because I think A&M beats many teams it shouldn't at Kyle (it doesn't-- there is no empirical evidence to support that belief whatsoever), and not because I think they're better. Just because I think Tech is ripe for a poor performance, and A&M will capitalize on it.
Now why do you have to go and be all truthful and stuff? And yes, you're right that there isn't really any empircal evidence that says A&M beats team it shouldn't at home...anything I say could just as easily be called a coincidence; though, I think the 24 away losses compared to the 9 home losses in the past twelve years is almost too lop-sided to be ignored. But let's face it, it is one of the loudest, and most-heavily attended stadiums in all of college football. If homefield advantage doesn't exists at Kyle field, then it doesn't exist anywhere.
