Virginia Tech Football: 5 Bold Predictions for the Hokies' Bowl Game
The Virginia Tech Hokies will face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the 2015 Camping World Independence Bowl on December 26. It will be the Hokies' first appearance in the Independence Bowl since 1993. Coincidentally, that's the year Tech's current bowl streak began.
This game will be head coach Frank Beamer's last on the sideline for the Hokies. The iconic Beamer announced his retirement last month.
Can the Hokies send him out a winner?
Here are five bold predictions for Virginia Tech in next week's Independence Bowl.
Travon McMillian Rushes for 150 Yards or More
Redshirt freshman running back Travon McMillian took over the starting role in early October and never looked back. In McMillian's last seven games, he rushed for 737 yards and five touchdowns.
On the season, McMillian ran for 961 yards, and with 39 yards he will become the first Hokie to go for over 1,000 yards since David Wilson in 2011.
Well, the Golden Hurricane rank No. 118 against the run in the FBS. That means a big day should be in store for McMillian and the Hokies ground game.
How big of a day?
McMillian will rush for over 150 yards and set a new career high.
Isaiah Ford Will Go Over 1,000 Yards Receiving on the Season
Andre Davis set Virginia Tech's single-season record for receiving yards in 1999 with 962. That's right, the Hokies have never had a receiver go over 1,000 yards in a season.
Davis did go over 1,000 yards in Tech's Sugar Bowl loss to Florida State, but postseason yardage doesn't qualify for single-season yardage totals in VT's record books.
Sophomore Isaiah Ford broke Tech's single-season record for receptions and touchdowns and finished second in school history with 937 yards. His record-breaking season earned him a place on the All-ACC First Team.
While Ford won't get credit for the 1,000-yard season in VT's record book due to his achieving the mark in a bowl game, he will go over 1,000 yards for the season overall. That is, if he can get 63 yards against Tulsa.
He will. Ford was a model of consistency all season long for the Hokies.
It will be a big milestone for Ford and the Hokies, as he'll be just the second player in school history to go over the 1,000-yard mark in a season.
The Hokies Will Have a Sack Party
Statistically, it was a bad season for Virginia Tech's pass rush. The Hokies had just 21 sacks in 2015, compared to 48 a year ago.
There were many reasons for the drastic decrease in sacks. One was that Dadi Nicolas, arguably Tech's top pass-rusher, struggled with injuries to both hands. He finished the regular season with one sack.
Fortunately, Virginia Tech faces a Tulsa team that's allowed 36 sacks on the season. And longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster won't hesitate to be aggressive against the Golden Hurricane.
Expect to see plenty of blitzing, especially early, by the Hokies as they hope to force a game-changing turnover. That will result in three or more sacks by Virginia Tech's defense.
The Hokies Will Make a Big Play on Special Teams
The special teams unit was Virginia Tech's calling card for most of Beamer's tenure. Blocked kicks, blocked punts, kicks returned for touchdowns, etc; you name it, the Hokies did it.
However, in recent years, Tech hasn't made the big plays on special teams with the same regularity.
The Hokies will make a big play—or two—on special teams in the Independence Bowl. How could they not in Beamer's final game?
Der'Woun Greene is VT's best kick returner. When he has received opportunities, he's been successful, averaging almost 26 yards per return. Greene will have at least one big return for the Hokies that will lead to points.
Frank Beamer Will Go Out a Winner
The Golden Hurricane averaged almost 36 points per game in 2015. The Hokies, meanwhile, averaged 29.
This could be a big rest for Tech's defense. Tulsa is balanced on offense, averaging 173 yards rushing per game, while also passing for over 300 yards per contest.
VT's defense is susceptible to the big play, thanks to a young secondary. Fortunately for the Hokies, Tulsa QB Dane Evans isn't much of a runner. Athletic quarterbacks have given the Hokies fits in recent years.
Expect Tech to keep Evans in the pocket, getting after him and forcing him to make some bad decisions. That will lead to some opportunities for Virginia Tech's offense.
Behind quarterback Michael Brewer, the Hokies offense will take advantage and lead Tech to victory, sending the legendary Beamer out a winner.