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Carrie Stroup here with your Sugar Bowl betting preview for 2012. This game features a 10-2 Michigan Wolverines team versus a Virginia Tech Hokies team at 11-2. Bet this game at Sportsbook.com and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH here.
Sportsbook.com Line: Michigan -3 & 51
Opening Line & Total: Wolverines -2.5 & 52
Michigan seeks its fourth straight victory when it faces a Virginia Tech team fortunate to be in a BCS bowl after its 38-10 loss in the ACC Championship Game.
The Hokies have absolutely no business being in this bowl and the Wolverines will do their best to show the world what a farce this really is. Virginia Tech’s schedule was bad enough playing in the ACC, but it didn’t even have to face Florida State or NC State, the conference’s only two bowl winners this postseason. Meanwhile, Michigan has played seven straight bowl participants, with four of those coming on the road, and managed to go 5-2, posting the five wins by an average margin of 18.2 PPG. The Hokies allowed a below-average Clemson rushing offense (was ranked 67th) to gain 217 yards on them, and have little chance at stopping Michigan’s 12th-ranked run offense (236 YPG) led by QB Denard Robinson. The pick here is MICHIGAN</b> to win comfortably.
The Hokies also have a tremendous ball carrier in RB David Wilson (125 rushing YPG, 6th in FBS), who has 10 games of at least 120 yards. But he’ll be facing a tough Wolverines run-stop unit that has allowed less than 140 rushing yards in eight of the past nine games (101 YPG over span). Tech junior QB Logan Thomas has been solid this season, throwing for 2,799 yards (215 YPG), 19 TD and 9 INT. He has also rushed for 10 scores, but has gained a mere 61 rushing yards on 32 carries (1.9 YPC) in the past three games. The Wolverines defend the pass pretty well too, allowing just 189 passing YPG (17th in FBS) and 12 touchdowns in 12 games. They also have 28 sacks, but the Hokies have a strong offensive line, allowing just 15 sacks all season.
Robinson (97 rushing YPG, 16 TD) and RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (92 rushing YPG, 9 TD) have led Michigan to 738 rushing yards (246 YPG) over the past three weeks. Robinson hasn’t been great throwing the football this season (56% completions, 18 TD, 14 INT), but he is coming off two big passing games, combining to go 25-of-35 (71%) for 347 yards, 5 TD and 1 INT. He should be able to continue the surge against a Hokies defense that has allowed 200+ net passing yards in nine of their past 11 games. Virginia Tech does rank as the nation’s 15th-best team in total defense (314 YPG) though, and is eighth in points allowed at 17.2 PPG. Sophomore DL James Gayle finished third in the ACC with seven of his team’s 38 sacks this year (T-11th in nation). The Wolverines have dropped five of their past six bowl games and are trying to redeem themselves after a 52-14 drubbing at the hands of Mississippi State last year.
Another area the Hokies are hurting in, is the kicking game, as sophomore K Cody Journell was suspended after being charged with breaking and entering. Virginia Tech is also one of the worst punting teams in the nation, as its 33.6 net punting yards rank 108th among the 120 FBS schools.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
