Athlon's College Football [11] top 25 countdown for 2012 continues with No. 16 Virginia Tech. Quarterback Logan Thomas is back, but the Hokies have to replace four offensive line starters and running back David Wilson.
Can Virginia Tech Win the ACC Championship in 2012?
David Fox (@DavidFox615 [12])
As long as Clemson is on the schedule only once, Virginia Tech has a chance. If we learned anything last year Clemson is better than Virginia Tech – or at least everyone learned that except for the voters in the Harris and coaches polls who voted the Hokies higher last year. There’s good reason to be skeptical about Virginia Tech this season. Quarterback Logan Thomas is one of only three returning starters on the offense. As opposed to years past, Virginia Tech has no clear heir apparent at running back as David Wilson was. Beyond that, I thought the Hokies receiving corps was overlooked at times. And the defense, as usual, will keep Virginia Tech near the top of the league. In the end, what the ACC comes down to is the conference championship game. The Hokies are the clear favorite in the Coastal Division. Despite Virginia’s eight-win season, the blowout losses to the Hokies and Auburn to end the season show the Cavaliers aren’t ready to win the conference quite yet. North Carolina is ineligible. Georgia Tech looks like it’s going to top out at around eight wins, and Miami could struggle. If Virginia Tech wins the Coastal, I might be tempted to pick the Hokies in the title game – as long as Clemson isn’t on the other side.
Braden Gall (@BradenGall [13])
The top of the Atlantic Division may be stronger than the top of the Coastal in 2012, but that is why I am not betting against the Hokies of Virginia Tech. Miami has plenty of talent but is very young. Virginia is extremely well coached and will be strong on defense but lacks the overall talent to win the title (yet). Georgia Tech will be very difficult to stop on offense but plays a rough schedule. And North Carolina might be the most talented foe but has to deal with a coaching change and sanctions. It feels like the Hokies are the clearcut pick to win the division with what could be the nation's best defense. The winner of the "Tech-mo" Bowl has gone on to win this division every year of its existence, and while I like the Yellow Jackets to act as top challenger, I'll take Bud Foster with three months to prepare to stop the option on Labor Day Night.
So after winning its fifth Coastal title in six years, and its sixth in eigth years, can Virginia Tech topple the Atlantic winner? Be it the offense of Clemson, the defense of Florida State or the sneaky good coaching and quarterback play of NC State that prevails, I'm still taking the Hokies to claim the ACC title this fall.
There are certainly questions about the Hokies offensive line and running game. But when has Frank Beamer not been able to find someone to run the ball? And with a quarterback who can move the pile at will, I am not as concerned about the offense as others seem to be. Logan Thomas will take the next step in his development and make himself a first-round pick by carrying the offense. Foster's defense will do the rest. Clemson proved it can beat the Hokies a year ago but Beamer won't let his team forget that and I just can't see Florida State or NC State consistently moving the ball on the lawfirm of Collins, Gayle, Edwards, Taylor, Fuller and Exum.
Steven Lassan (@AthlonSteven [14])
There’s not a ton of separation between the ACC’s top three teams for 2012: Clemson, Florida State and Virginia Tech. And what might make-or-break the conference race is the play on the offensive lines. The Tigers have to replace three starters, while the Hokies lost four from last year. Even though Florida State returns nearly everyone up front, the line is still a major question mark going into 2012.
Barring major injuries, the Hokies should cruise to the ACC Coastal title. Miami is rebuilding, and Georgia Tech, Virginia and North Carolina each have question marks. The Tar Heels might be Virginia Tech’s biggest challenger in the Coastal, but is unable to play for the division title due to NCAA sanctions.
Virginia Tech will get a shot at both Clemson and Florida State in the regular season, but struggled against the Tigers in two matchups last season. Florida State visits Blacksburg on Thursday night in early November, which should be one of the ACC's top matchups for 2012. If the offensive line comes together, and a replacement for running back David Wilson is found early in the year, I think the Hokies will certainly push Clemson and Florida State for the ACC title and a spot among the top 10 teams in college football. The defense is certainly one of the best in college football, but surprisingly for a Frank Beamer-coached team, the special teams (kicker and punter) could be an issue. Although the Hokies are a solid team, I give a slight edge to Clemson or Florida State to win a very competitive (at least at the top) ACC in 2012.
Mark Ross
There is no reason why Frank Beamer can't lead his team to a third straight ACC title game in 2012. Besides, Virginia Tech has represented the ACC Coastal Division in the championship game five of the seven years it has been played, so why should we expect a different outcome this season?
More to the point, the Hokies are once again the favorite in the Coastal Division because of quarterback Logan Thomas and what could be one of Bud Foster's strongest defenses in his 18 years as coordinator. Georgia Tech and North Carolina will be heard from and may even pull off an upset or two, but Virginia Tech should find itself in familiar territory come December - playing in Charlotte, N.C., for the ACC title.
This is not a typical Beamer-coached Hokies team, however. There are question marks surrounding both the running game and offensive line, while the receiving corps is, for the most part, unproven. Again, the defense could be really, really good, but in order for the unit to get to that elite level it will need its key players, especially at linebacker and in the secondary, to avoid the injury bug.
If Beamer and the coaching staff are able to develop some sort of reliable running game and the offensive line comes together, then Virginia Tech could have a dangerous offense to go with its potentially dominant defense. If that happens, then they are as big a threat in the ACC, and perhaps even nationally, as any other team. If not then Hokie fans will probably have to be content with a second-straight season as the ACC runner-up.
Patrick Snow (@AthlonSnowman [15])
The Hokies can definitely win the ACC, but I do not see them as the overall favorite. Frank Beamer’s bunch looks primed to win another Coastal crown, while Florida State and Clemson battle for Atlantic supremacy. The Virginia Tech defense should keep the Hokies in every game, but the key to winning the conference will be how an inexperienced offense develops around talented quarterback Logan Thomas. Beamer and staff must replace first-round pick David Wilson at running back, top receivers Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin, as well as four starters on the offensive line.
A talented and deep line rotation will lead the defense, and Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum will be the latest elite secondary members to be produced by coordinator Bud Foster. This solid unit will have to carry the weight early, while new stars like Marcus Davis, D.J. Coles and Michael Holmes develop on offense. The schedule is not easy with a season-opener against Georgia Tech, trips to North Carolina and Clemson, plus games with Florida State and an improving Virginia squad. The Seminoles and Tigers return top rosters, but the Hokies should be improved enough by December to defeat either squad in Charlotte. Beamer’s program has won double-digit games nine times over the last decade, so the Hokies would not surprise anyone by winning another ACC crown.
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