Orange Bowl Free Pick: Take Virginia Tech
Gambling911.com has your Orange Bowl free pick courtesy of BetUS.com.
Charles Jay of BetUS.com makes a decent argument for Virginia Tech covering this one at +2 ½.
"Virginia Tech has been able to assemble a running game behind Darren Evans, who ran for 1112 yards, and Taylor is an elusive signal-caller, with 691 yards of his own. In terms of the air attack, however, Cincinnati would appear to have a clear advantage. Tony Pike, a 6'6": junior, came in to stabilize the quarterback position, completing 63% for 18 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. His wide receivers, Mardy Gilyard and Dominick Goodman, combined for 152 catches and 2095 yards. There is balance in the rushing game too, as Jacob Ramsey and John Goebel teamed up for 1211 yards.
"Even with all that, we can make a case for the Virginia Tech side. Frank Beamer may be just 6-9, both straight-up and against the spread, in bowl games, but he's got a lot more experience preparing teams for the post-season than counterpart Butch Kelly. Victor "Macho" Harris and Stephan Virgil are a damn good corner tandem, and may play a little shutdown with the Cincinnati wideouts, especially since one of them, Goodman, hasn't had any contact since returning from a shoulder injury. Mickens is also just coming back from a knee injury, and the All-America corner hasn't tested it much. Beamer's staff may be able to neutralize the special teams edges Cincinnati usually gets with punter Kevin Huber."
The problem is, Virginia Tech hasn't won any of their 3 BCS Bowl games. And with that said, Jay suggests only a small play on the Hokies.
"Virginia Tech put its best effort forward at the close of the season, with a 30-12 win over defensively-stout Boston College in the ACC title game, so they come into this contest with a head of steam, and there will be theme of "redemption" after last year's Orange Bowl resulted in a 24-21 loss to Kansas."
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
