<div class="sidebar-head" align="center"><table border="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td align="left"></td><td align="center">@</td><td align="right"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="sidebar-head" align="center"> Where: Baton Rouge, La. Stadium: Tiger (92,400) Date: Sept. 8, 2007 Time: 9:15 PM (ET) TV: ESPN</div><div class="sidebar-head" align="center"> <font size="3">Virginia Tech Offense vs. LSU Defense </font><u><font color="#0000ff">Sean Glennon</font></u> gained some much-needed confidence in the opener versus East Carolina. He completed 22 of 33 passes and settled in as the game progressed. Glennon has a deep and talented corps of receivers that includes <u><font color="#0000ff">Josh Morgan</font></u>, <u><font color="#0000ff">Justin Harper</font></u>, <u><font color="#0000ff">Josh Hyman</font></u> and <u><font color="#0000ff">Eddie Royal</font></u>. Additionally, he seems to have developed a rapport with sophomore TE <u><font color="#0000ff">Sam Wheeler</font></u>. The undersized and athletic Wheeler led the Hokies with seven catches against the Pirates, including a 21-yard touchdown reception that broke the game open in the fourth quarter. While coach Frank Beamer has to be pleased with his junior quarterback's debut, he knows Glennon is in for the ultimate challenge versus LSU's vaunted defense in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. </p> The Hokies will attempt to maintain dedication to the run, but it's unlikely to work. RB Brandon Ore is a tough, shifty runner with good power for his size. He does an excellent job of setting up his blocks and hitting the crease hard once it opens up. Unfortunately for him, there won't be many creases to hit in this game. His offensive line struggled to generate a push versus East Carolina's defense last week and it faces a much tougher task against LSU's talented and deep defensive front this Saturday. Furthermore, Ore doesn't possess the type of speed or elusiveness it takes to create yards on his own. </p> Despite Ore's struggles in the opener, the Tigers will load up versus the run and force QB <u><font color="#0000ff">Sean Glennon</font></u> to beat them with his arm. Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini has a great deal of faith in his starting CB's Jonathan Zenon and Chevis Jackson, which means he won't be afraid to cheat SS Craig Steltz up near the line of scrimmage occasionally as a fourth-linebacker type in run support. As seen in his three-interception debut as a starter last week, Steltz also is a valuable playmaker in coverage when he's freed up to roam the middle of the field. LSU is big, experienced and deep along its defensive line and it returns all three starting linebackers from last year's swarming unit. DT Glenn Dorsey is the biggest matchup concern for the Hokies. ROG Sergio Render is a wide-body mauler that showed promise starting as a true freshman last season, but his lack of mobility will become a severe problem versus the first-step quickness of Dorsey. The Hokies only solution is to provide double-team help to Render ? generally from the center or right tackle ? which in turn will afford MLB Darry Beckwith and WLB Ali Highsmith the space they need to pursue Ore from sideline-to-sideline. <font size="3">LSU Offense vs. Virginia Tech Defense</font> It took a while for LSU's offense to get into a rhythm in the opener at Mississippi State, but there were positives to take from that game. First, QB <u><font color="#0000ff">Matt Flynn</font></u> maintained composure throughout and avoided turning the ball over. Second, the running game got stronger as the game progressed and it was able to net nearly 200 yards on 50 carries. RB/FB <u><font color="#0000ff">Jacob Hester</font></u> is a tough runner with outstanding versatility, which is why he's seeing most of the playing time. However, the will also need some more production out of its young backs in <u><font color="#0000ff">Keiland Williams</font></u> and <u><font color="#0000ff">Charles Scott</font></u>, who combined for just 26 yards on 10 carries. Williams did score two touchdowns but he only averaged 2.6 yards per carry and he still doesn't seem as comfortable in new coordinator Gary Crowton's scheme as he was in former coordinator Jimbo Fisher's (Florida State) system last season. </p> Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster believes in pressuring opponents until they make the big mistake. His unit, as usual, is a bit undersized, but more than makes up for it with speed and aggressiveness. DE Chris Ellis and DT Carlton Powell anchor a defensive front that penetrates and disrupts on a consistent basis. The Hokies generally cheat up OLB Cam Martin as a fifth defender on the line and trust the exceptional ILB duo of Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi to clean up the trash versus the run. Hall is an absolute tackling machine, while Adibi is more of a big-play creator with rare speed for his position. </p> Brandon Flowers and Victor "Macho" Harris form the best cover corner tandem in college football. Flowers is the more consistent of the two but Harris possesses rare physical skills and is emerging as a true playmaker. Harris followed up an outstanding showing in spring practice with an outstanding debut performance in 2007, which included a 17-yard interception return for a touchdown. LSU still has a great deal of talent at wide receiver but its only battle-tested weapon at this point is <u><font color="#0000ff">Early Doucet</font></u>, who finished the first game with eight more catches (nine) than any of his teammates. </p> The good news is that QB Matt Flynn has quickly established a rapport with the speedy Doucet. The bad news is that opponents will force Flynn to prove he can be as effective throwing to other receivers by consistently rolling coverage to Doucet's side. Foster won't be afraid to leave either of his cornerbacks on an island in this game, but also expect to see a lot of "man-free" coverage in the secondary. In that look, FS D.J. Parker will play the role of centerfielder but he will cheat a bit to Doucet's side in order to provide deep support for either of his corners. The corner will be alone in man-coverage on the opposite side, which frees up rover Kam Chancellor to inch up near the line of scrimmage to help support the run -- and that's exactly what Chancellor does best. The only way LSU will have success on this side of the ball is if Flynn can burn Virginia Tech for being overaggressive. In order to accomplish that goal, Flynn needs to make quick, intelligent decisions in the face of the blitz and make accurate throws to his complementary receivers -- <u><font color="#0000ff">Brandon LaFell</font></u>, <u><font color="#0000ff">Trindon Holliday</font></u> and <u><font color="#0000ff">Chris Mitchell</font></u> -- who will be working against man-to-man coverage. <font size="3">Special Teams</font> Coach Frank Beamer takes a great deal of pride in his program's unmatched success on special teams. So, while the Hokies are breaking in two new kickers -- PK Jud Dunlevy and PT Brent Bowden, a severe drop-off in production should not be expected from this unit. Dunlevy connected on his only field goal attempt last week from 25 yards out and Bowden averaged a respectable 42.3 yards on six punts. Royal handles both the kickoff and punt return duties and he's capable of breaking the game open every time he touches the ball. </p> In all fairness, though, the same can be said for LSU's outstanding pair of return specialists in Doucet and Holliday. It seems Doucet will handle more kickoffs and Holliday more punts this season. Both possess breakaway speed if they get a crease to exploit. All four of LSU's kickers did a fine job in the opener versus Mississippi State. Patrick Fisher averaged 44.9 yards per punt, while landing two inside the Bulldogs' 20 yard-line. Colt David nailed his only field goal attempt from 27 yards out. Finally, kickoff specialists Josh Jasper and Andrew Crutchfield averaged nearly 62 yards per attempt. <font size="3">Scouts' Edge</font> Virginia Tech and LSU both return eight starters from units that finished last season ranked first and third, respectively, in total defense. So it's safe to say points will be at a premium in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. More often than not in these types of heavyweight bouts, turnovers and special teams' play decide the outcome. While Glennon looked improved in the opener, his pension for making mistakes under pressure is sure to resurface in this hostile environment. Flynn is making only his third career start but he does a better job of protecting the ball and managing the game. Also, never underestimate Beamer's ability to manufacture on special teams but inexperience kickers in a road game of this magnitude is often times a recipe for disaster. Finally, as far as intangibles are concerned; Tiger Stadium is college football's least forgiving venue for an opposing team. Plus, it's difficult to predict how Virginia Tech's players will rebound following last week's emotionally exhausting season-opener in Blacksburg. </p> </div>
The fact that EVERYONE is saying this game will be won by field goals and not touchdowns almost makes me want to believe that the opposite will happen.
Should be low scoring. I think the difference will be the QB's. I like Flynn more than I do Glennon so that's where I give the edge to LSU.
It will be crucial for Va Tech to score firstin anyway they can. I'm also hoping LSU gets ball first. The crowd will be going nuts and LSU will just feed off that, especially from the start. I'd rather have the D out there to set the tone and maybe force something.</p> </p>
<font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">LSU will blow these guys out. Va Tech isn't as good as advertised.</font></p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Tonight will prove that.</font></p>
