Sugar Bowl 2012 Projection: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. TCU Horned Frogs

With two SEC schools in the national title game and the Houston Cougars losing the Conference USA championship game, that leaves the 2012 Sugar Bowl to two at-large teams.

And those two teams will be the Virginia Tech Hokies (ACC at-large) and the TCU Horned Frogs (Mountain West Conference champs).

Heading into the conference championship weekend, the Hokies were ranked No. 5 in the BCS, No. 3 in the Coaches' Poll and No. 4 in the Harris Poll. In addition to that, a team that most believe would get the Sugar Bowl bid, Kansas State, gets left out.

Currently the Wildcats are ranked No. 11 in the BCS, so they're not too far away from striking distance of Virginia Tech. However, the Wildcats are ranked just No. 15 in the Coaches' and Harris polls, so making that jump ahead of the Hokies is a slim chance.

As for the Horned Frogs, they're going to end up as the highest-ranked, non-AQ champion and have a win over the No. 7 Boise State Broncos (who should move up with Houston and Virginia Tech losing).

So, that's how we get to a great coaching matchup between VA-Tech's Frank Beamer and TCU's Gary Patterson.

As to how both schools got here, well, both began the year ranked inside the Top 15 but suffered setbacks which may have cost them an automatic bid.

TCU lost to Baylor in the opening week as well as SMU in Week 5. But ever since their 3-2 start, the Horned Frogs have ran off seven straight (won at Boise) and are 10-2. Not to mention, 2011 was their third consecutive MWC title.

Virginia Tech, on the other hand, began 4-0, was upset by Clemson at home 23-3 but then proceeded to win seven straight and get a rematch with the Tigers this week.

Unfortunately though, the Hokies fell once again to Clemson (38-10) in the ACC title game and are 11-2. But because Frank Beamer's club finished the regular season 11-1 and so much BCS parity ensued in November, the Hokies capitalized on a weak schedule.

Losing to Clemson will surely drop them, but it won't be so low because of their high Coaches' and Harris poll ranks, and they'll sneak in an at-large bid.

Now, to discuss this matchup.

TCU's defense has been uncharacteristically unsound this season (allowing over 21 points per game).

Virginia Tech's defense however, allows just 15 points per game and has just as explosive of an offense. QB Logan Thomas is a dual-threat force that TCU has faced just once this season (Robert Griffin), so he will dominate them.

The Hokies may have faced a rather weak BCS schedule, but it's still much more difficult than TCU's, and VA-Tech's been just as productive.

WR Jarrett Boykin will cause a lot of problems in the vulnerable TCU secondary/pass defense, and although TCU QB Casey Pachall is having a great season, he's never had to worry about a guy like Hokie DB Jayron Hosley.

On the year Hosley has three INTs, two forced fumbles and 56 tackles. Not to mention last season he led the nation with nine INTs, so the man knows how to patrol a secondary.

Virginia Tech 35, TCU 17.

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