ESPN College Football

Virginia Tech and Boston College, along with Miami, used to be the cream of the Big East. Now they're fighting it out in the ACC. The Hokies and the Eagles meet in Blacksburg Thursday (on ESPN) in a game that might go a long way in determining the conference champion. Although the BCS voters celebrate the spectacular offenses of USC, Texas and the like, we have always found that defense wins championships, and when it comes to defense there might not be a better one in the country than Virginia Tech's.

Virginia Tech -13½ over Boston College: This is not Boston College's first visit to the Hokies. Two years ago, Tech crushed Miami in Blacksburg (31-7) and then acted like its season was over. The next four games were disasters. The Hokies lost at Pitt, beat Temple by a point, then lost at home to Boston College and then at Virginia. The BC loss helped to kill their season.

Tech coach Frank Beamer obviously solved the problem last year, losing by an eyelash to undefeated Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. This year's team looks every bit as mean defensively, but lacks the zip in the running game which it will need to hold off the Eagles. That zip returns in the presence of RB Cedric Humes, who will play in this game despite breaking his forearm less than three weeks ago.

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