Virginia Tech Football: The Ins and Outs, Highs and Lows of the 2012 Schedule

The Hokies finished with an 11-3 record last year, but they just weren't that Hokies team we're all used to seeing. There was just something missing, as they lost three of the four games against ranked opponents.

This season, they return 12 players, including nine on the defensive side of the ball. Their goals remain the same, and that's to win the ACC and to return to a BCS bowl. They have the talent to get the job done, especially in a watered-down ACC, but will their schedule hold them back?

As we get closer to kicking off the regular season, here's your 2012 Virginia Tech complete schedule breakdown.

Easiest Game

Virginia Tech has a lot of easy opponents on this year's schedule, but the easiest opponent by far is the Austin Peay Governors. This is a team that finished 3-8 last year in the OVC. Do I really need to explain any more about this matchup?

Toughest Game

Florida State enters this season with one goal on their mind: to win the ACC and possibly reach the national championship. They return nine starers on both sides of the ball and are one of the toughest defensive teams in the country.

This game will be played in Blacksburg, but that's not saying much when you realize the Hokies have lost 13 of the last 15 meetings against the Seminoles.

Potential Blowout

Even if Urban Meyer came back to coach the Falcons, I'm not sure that Bowling Green would be able to knock off the Hokies. This is a program that's won seven games combined in the last two years. They shouldn't be able to hang on either side of the ball, as they lost to Kent State, of all teams, last year. Don't expect this game to be close at all.

Potential for Disaster

While Virginia Tech lost nearly their entire offense, Georgia Tech keeps eight starters. They return seven starters on defense as well.

Sure, the Hokies won last year's meeting, but they gave up 243 rushing yards doing so. Will the Hokies have enough offense to keep up with the Yellow Jackets' tricky offense?

This is the first game of the season for both teams on prime time; a loss here would likely drop the loser several spots in the rankings and make things difficult the rest of the way as far as the polls are concerned.

Most Intriguing Matchup

Clemson should enter the season as a top-15 team and will return majority of their team, including seven players from an offense that averaged nearly 34 points per contest. In last year's matchups against Clemson, Virginia Tech lost both meetings by other 20 points.

With the Tigers team staying intact for the most part and the Hokies losing eight starters, will the outcome be any different?

Besides Florida State, these two teams are arguably the best in the ACC. Should be an interesting matchup.

Trap Game

Virginia Tech opens the season up against Georgia Tech, but after that, they take on a few cupcakes such as Austin Peay and Blowing Green. In between those two games, the Hokies have to travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers. That's a team that's returning eight starters on the offensive sides of the ball, including star running back Ray Graham.

The Panthers did struggle throughout the year, but keep in mind that they only lost by one to West Virginia and did beat up on South Florida. They can create a few headaches if you don't take them seriously.

Rivalry Game Prediction

Virginia had a successful season under head coach Mike London, and the team returns 11 starters from last year's team. The problem is that, although the Cavaliers had a successful season, they lost to the Hokies by a score of 38-0 and couldn't get much going on either side of the ball.

Now, will Virginia fair better in this matchup? Probably. But I don't see the result being much different. The Hokies are too strong defensively and have a playmaker at quarterback in Logan Thomas who should produce enough offense on his own. I'll take Virginia Tech in this contest.

Virginia Tech wins: 32-17

Upset Special

The Miami Hurricanes have many questions on the offensive side of the ball, but they do have a solid quarterback, it looks like, in Stephen Morris. They also return seven talented starters on defense, including a few members from a secondary that was ranked third in ACC last season.

The game takes place in Miami and is only a week before the big matchup against Florida State. Regardless of how many questions a Hurricane team has, you can never overlook the talent that's on the roster. This team will always have a chance due to the speed on both sides of the ball, and they usually play the Hokies extremely well.

Heisman Highlight Game

Logan Thomas is the playmaker on this offense, and it will likely go as far as he takes it. He threw for over 3,000 yards last season, rushed for over 450 and scored 30 total touchdowns. With a complete year under his belt, he should improve those numbers even more his junior season.

Assuming he plays well throughout the year, his Heisman game will likely be against Clemson. The Tigers will likely be the favorites in a game that's being played in Memorial Stadium. It will take a heck of a performance to out-dual that loaded offense.

If Thomas can help get the job done with a superb performance, Thomas won't just hurt Clemson's chances at the ACC title, he'll likely receive interest for a Heisman trophy. 

Must-Win Game

There aren't many big games on the Hokies' schedule this season, but they do open it up with a huge matchup against Georgia Tech—one that will take place on Monday night, with the whole college football world watching.

A win could really set thins nicely for the Hokies, as they don't have another true test until October, 20 against the Tigers. That's really six straight games that Virginia Tech should win fairly easily. Or the Hokies could lose the game and take a plunge in the rankings and make things difficult the rest of the way.

Huge season opener for Frank Beamer's club.