Sugar Bowl 2012: Why Virginia Tech Will Blow out Michigan

The 2012 Sugar Bowl is one that most analysts are predicting to be a close game with Michigan coming out victorious. The Wolverines better be wary because this is playing directly into Virginia Tech’s hands. The Hokies could very easily walk out of New Orleans with the Sugar Bowl in hand after blowing out Michigan.

There are a few reasons why Virginia Tech will blow out the Wolverines. The biggest reason is that the Hokies have a huge chip on their shoulder. The most dangerous team is the one backed into a corner. All of the criticism about the Hokies BCS berth will inspire the team.

This game is reminiscent of the 1995 Sugar Bowl. The underappreciated Hokies are heading into New Orleans to play a traditional power with no one giving them a real chance. The '95 Hokies responded by blowing out Texas 28-10. At the time no one knew or paid attention to the team from Blacksburg, but the win launched them onto the national stage.

Since that year the Hokies are the winningest program in the country. This year the Hokies are playing another traditional power in Michigan. Despite the fact that the Hokies are the higher ranked team, most of the backlash about the Sugar Bowl has been directed at Virginia Tech.

The Hokies have all of the motivation to dominate Michigan on Tuesday, but they also have the athletes and the talent in order to make a blowout reality. The Virginia Tech offense has larger skill players who will make numerous mismatches with the Wolverines defense.

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas may be the biggest mismatch in this game. He has only been sacked 15 times this season because of his mobility and the difficulty to bring him down. Thomas is a lot like Ben Roethlisberger in his ability to make plays. Even if a defensive lineman has Thomas by the legs, he can still throw a strike to one of his scrambling receivers.

Michigan’s defense better watch out if Thomas can start running downhill, because at that point he is a bigger hitter then any defender Michigan has to offer. Michigan players have compared Thomas to former Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor. They say that Thomas’ size is similar but he isn’t as athletic. The Wolverines may come to regret those words as they are about to face a quarterback with a tight end’s skill set.

Thomas will be a huge factor in this game, but so will running back David Wilson. Wilson was one of the most dynamic rushers in the country this season. The back is 28 yards short of having the best season a running back has ever had for the Hokies. Wilson didn’t get a lot of opportunities in the ACC Championship Game. What’s worse is that he didn’t make the most of the opportunities he did get.

Wilson is hungry and is in line for a big game. Michigan has a great defense but they have been susceptible to the run. Wilson’s ability and motivation will lead him to a huge game against Michigan.

While the offense will put up points on Michigan, the defense is the reason this game will become a blowout.

Denard Robinson is the biggest mismatch with this game, but if the Hokies can get the lead early then Michigan will be forced to throw the ball which plays directly into Virginia Tech’s hands. Robinson is a very good quarterback but he does make mistakes. He threw 14 interceptions this year. That is advantage Hokies considering that Virginia Tech has more interceptions than any other FBS team since 2000.

Bud Foster’s defensive scheme provides a look that Michigan doesn’t see very often: press coverage. The Hokies defense plays press coverage a lot and they have the athletes in Jayron Hosley and Kyle Fuller to do it. Athletic corners and experienced safeties give the Hokies the ability to create turnovers.

The coverage ability of the secondary also provides Virginia Tech’s defense the ability to mirror Robinson. Robinson is probably the fastest quarterback in the country and his ability to scramble is a huge weapon for the Wolverines. The Hokies secondary allows the defensive line to rush the quarterback while the linebackers can stay back and get to Robinson if he decides to run.

The Hokies have the talent and the motivation to beat the Wolverines by a large margin. This game may simply be an exhibition to most but it isn’t to Virginia Tech. The Hokies have taken notice of the disrespect and will rise to the challenge. The Hokies will put the world on notice much like they did in 1995.