Sugar Bowl 2012: Vastly Improved Michigan Will Take Care of Business vs. Hokies

Michigan is mostly known for its flashy, game-breaking quarterback Denard Robinson. He is their most marketable player. 

Highlights from games he had like at home vs. Notre Dame, the comeback the next week at Northwestern, and the shellacking of Nebraska prove that.  He does a lot of great things in key moments and deserves the publicity.

It's the defense, though, that has these Wolverines in the BCS Sugar Bowl on Jan. 3rd. 

A year ago, the Wolverines were in the Gator Bowl, losing badly, 52-14 to Mississippi State.  That defense of a year ago was No. 110 in the country. 

In comes Brady Hoke preaching smash-mouth, old-school "Michigan football".  The phrase coach Hoke has been reminding everyone who will listen to him all year is "This is Michigan." 

story short, the team has responded and now have the nation's No. 18 defense and rank No. 7 in points allowed.  They improved their sacks under Hoke and new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison from 18 to 28. They even produced a 1,000-yard rusher in Fitzgerald Toussaint—very Michigan-like.

They have already exceeded the expectations of many by finishing 10-2 and reaching a BCS game as well as—and most importantly—beating arch rival Ohio State after dropping the previous seven to the Buckeyes.  Now they will square off with Frank Beamer's Virginia Tech Hokies who are in familiar territory in the BCS: They often represent the ACC. 

Virginia Tech comes in with a similar team.  The Hokies rank No. 13 in defense nationally and also have a dual-threat quarterback in 6'6" Logan Thomas.  They both have big-play tailbacks—Toussaint averages 5.8 yards per carry and NFL prospect David Wilson of Virginia Tech averages 6.1 per carry.

Virginia Tech did not have any trouble running the table in the ACC, that is, except for Clemson who beat them by 20 at Virginia Tech and 28 in the ACC Title game.  Michigan dropped two road games at Iowa and Michigan State.

In what should be a very well-coached, tough game, I look to the strides Michigan has made under coach Hoke.  I also look at the Gator Bowl from Jan. 1st of last year and that 52-14 drubbing. 

Michigan will respond as they have all year and continue to surprise many of their critics.