College Football Predictions – Clemson @ Virginia Tech Odds and Picks on ESPN2 – Week 5 NCAA Football Spreads and Odds

Week 5 Free College Football Picks and Spreads: Clemson Tigers @ Virginia Tech Hokies 2011 NCAA Football Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on ESPN2 Saturday 10/1/11: A pair of undefeated ACC rivals faces off Saturday when the 13th-ranked Clemson Tigers (4-0) travel to Blacksburg to play the 11th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies (4-0). The winner not only becomes the frontrunner to win the conference, but moving to 5-0 against a top15 opponent would also be a step toward a possible national title run. While it remains to be seen how the rest of the year will play out, Saturday’s meeting should bring plenty of intensity between two schools looking to get some respect on the national level.

Traveling to Blacksburg isn’t easy for any team, and as a result, the Hokies are seven-point favorites in this one. However, the Tigers have easily been the more impressive team thus far, knocking off Auburn and Florida State the last two weekends. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech has been beating up and cupcake opponents all year. The strategy has certainly allowed Frank Beamer to break in sophomore quarterback Logan Thomas, but it will be interesting to see how the Hokies adjust to the sudden and dramatic jump in competition. Expect Clemson to focus on stopping the powerful Virginia Tech running game and try to make the unproven Thomas beat them.
On paper, the Hokies defense appears to be the strongest unit on the field, ranking in the top 10 in points allowed, yards allowed, and almost every other significant category. While Beamer’s teams tend to always be among the best defensively, the lack of competition the Hokies have faced so far again has to be considered when looking at the numbers. More importantly, the fact that Clemson just got finished torching a Florida State defense that was ranked in the top five nationally has to be considered as well. Tigers’ quarterback Tajh Boyd and running back Andre Ellington have the offense scoring almost 38 points per game, and Boyd already has 13 touchdown passes.

One matchup to watch will be the play of Virginia Tech star cornerback Jayron Hosley against receiver Sammy Watkins of Clemson. Watkins has been an absolute stud in his freshman season, stretching the field and emerging as one of the top prospects at his position. Hosley has already achieved that status, and given his huge edge in experience, it will be interesting to see how Watkins handles the situation. More importantly, it will be interesting to see how Watkins stays involved in the offense and how the Tigers compensate if Hosley does indeed take him out of the game.

The X-factor Saturday could be the game-changing ability of the Virginia Tech defense and special teams. For all his accomplishments this season, Boyd showed against the Seminoles that he isn’t perfect. If the Hokies can take an interception in for a score or block a kick, the Tigers could come unraveled in the hostile road atmosphere. If the game becomes a grind it out, low-scoring affair, the Tigers will be in trouble.

While the Blacksburg crowd will provide a major advantage for the Hokies, this year’s Clemson team is better than a lot of people expected heading into the season. Boyd and Watkins are better than advertised, and while the Tigers’ defense isn’t great, the unit is facing a Virginia Tech offense that is basically one dimensional. Clemson should be able to put points on the board just as they did against Auburn and FSU, and that is bad news for the Hokies and their untested QB. With the Tigers getting seven points, backing the underdogs is the way to go.

Prediction: Clemson Tigers (+7) Cover the Spread

Free College Football Picks and NCAAF Predictions: Clemson +7 to cover the spread

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