Virginia Tech vs. Virginia: My Favorite Tech Win over the Cavaliers

Mike London and the Virginia Cavaliers are changing the stakes in the Commonwealth Cup. 

For the first time since 2007, it matters.

When the Virginia Tech Hokies travel to Charlottesville on Saturday, the ACC Coastal division will be on the line. With that comes a berth in the ACC Championship against ACC Atlantic winner Clemson.

The only other occasion on which this game held ACC implications was the aforementioned tilt in 2007.

The eighth-ranked Hokies went on the road to face a 9-2 Virginia team that was ranked No. 16. The winner would take the Coastal crown and would go on to face Boston College in the championship game.

For the Hokies, the possibility of a rematch with Boston College provided plenty of incentive to show up against their archrivals. Tech was itching to avenge one of the toughest losses in Frank Beamer's tenure to Matt Ryan and Boston College earlier in the season.

On the other sideline, the 2007 game represented Al Groh's best shot to win the ACC since Tech's arrival to the conference in 2004.

Sean Glennon, Tyrod Taylor and Brandon Ore led the Hokies to a 33-21 victory in the biggest contest ever played between the Commonwealth foes. For me, it was the most memorable performance by Taylor during his freshman campaign. His two rushing touchdowns foreshadowed the electricity to come for the winningest quarterback in Tech history.

The 2007 Virginia roster was highlighted by defensive end Chris Long, who was a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy and a second overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.

The Commonwealth Cup has been one-sided, to say the least, in recent years. Virginia Tech has won the last seven meetings, including a 37-7 victory in last year's matchup.

The rivalry is often overlooked as one of the most fierce in the country. These teams have different cultures, styles and fans that annually clash on the last game of the season.

This includes a vandalism incident in which someone spray-painted a T after the V on the home field of the Cavaliers prior to the game. Perhaps it was an inside job?

London has changed the attitude in Charlottesville, however. He is a great recruiter and has beaten Beamer and company to some of the best players the state has to offer.

Tech will need to bring its best effort to win the ACC this year. There has been talk of an outside shot at a national championship bid in Blacksburg. Virginia fans know that the road must go through them first.

Without Tech's best performance, the Cavaliers will take down the No. 8 team in the country. The Hokies better be ready.

I know I will be.