Your 2012 Sugar Bowl: Michigan-Virginia Tech
At least it seems that way. [UPDATE: now official.] When infamous Cam Newton "bag man" troll Danny Sheridan was pushing it earlier in the day it just seemed goofy, but via Stewart Mandel:
@DDoughtyOnAir: UVa has advised TV outlets of media coordinates for Chick-fil-A news conference.
That means they've moved up a slot relative to expectations, which means a second ACC team is in the BCS, which means VT is in the Sugar Bowl since all other spots are spoken for. If you need further confirmation, check multiple rumors on this message board that don't come from established insiders but don't really have to at this point.
The Hokies haven't lost to anyone other than Clemson (in dual blowouts) but also haven't played anyone else. They played no BCS teams in the nonconference and their ACC schedule contains no opponent with more than eight wins.
They've got the usual fierce defense (12th in yardage, 8th in scoring) and mediocre run-based offense; former M recruit David Wilson is the nation's seventh-leading rusher and QB Logan Thomas is somewhat mobile. Interestingly, FEI has them essentially equal on both sides of the ball, ranking their units 20th and 21st pending the formula absorbing their Clemosn butt-kicking. Contrary to stereotype, their special teams are eh. They're 108th in net punting; FEI has them 74th in all phases.
Michigan has never played VT.
December 4th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
For some reason this match-up doesn't excite me. But I'm not gonna bitch about a BCS bowl either.
December 4th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
SWEET!
December 4th, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
Love me some chemistry!
December 4th, 2011 at 11:10 PM ^
taste so good!
December 4th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
Tastes so sweet!
December 4th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
Va. Tech soon to be 0-1 lifetime versus Michigan.
December 4th, 2011 at 9:28 PM ^
Always been interested to see how we would match up. I have never been completely sold on Beemer's teams (exception being Vick's final year), but I guess now is the chance to put up for shut up.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
Turkey for New Years, then, too?
December 4th, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
and now it's official, New Orleans isn't a bad trip for New Years!
December 4th, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^
VA Tech and related blogs--better bump your server capacity. MGoBlog is going to analyze you like you've never been analyzed before.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
Can't wait to see Denard with a Sugar high.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
December 4th, 2011 at 8:07 PM ^
Sugar is on Tuesday night after the holiday and the only bowl game on TV that day. Should get us a BIG audience. GO BLUE!
December 4th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
dosen't sound sexy...but this one might bear closer evaluation.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
Pour some sugar on me. I had to say it...sorry.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^
I'm hot sticky sweet, from my head, to my feet!!!
December 4th, 2011 at 9:10 PM ^
LEPPARD
December 4th, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
This has been the year of "I don't have a clue" games.
Nobody really knew what Mich had in terms of team 132 until the last couple games of the year. Now that we have a good idea what Michigan brings to the table, it draws a team that got blown out twice by its only quality opponent, but has more or less handled all of the lesser opponents.
Va Tech obviously isn't a match for Clemson (how that allows them in the Sugar Bowl is beyond me), but controlled their games against GT and UVA.
What that means for Michigan is beyond me, but I'm not really that concerned.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^
I"m just glad it's the Sugar in NOLA. Now just need to convince myself to make the short trip from Houston. Would've been much easier to convince my Houston-alum wife if the Coogs hadn't choked on Saturday.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
December 4th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
State will be playing Georgia in the Outback bowl
http://www.detnews.com/article/20111204/SPORTS0202/112040356/Michigan-S…
December 4th, 2011 at 8:24 PM ^
And I think they can actually win this one. Wow.
December 4th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
living in ACC country right now all you hear is how VT has really been the only valid football program in the ACC during the last 10 years. No question that ACC has been garbage the past 10 years, but I haven't seen an overall mess of a conference than what I saw this year. VT had problems against ecu, miami, and barely pulled off a victory over DUKE!!! B1G had success against the ACC in basketball and I'm looking forward to see another bashing courtesy of the maize and blue!
December 4th, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
Georgia has more talent on the field than MSU. I'd also take Mark Richt as a coach over Dantonio any day.
Also, never underestimate a good ole Sparty Noooo.
December 4th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
Did you see what that defense did to LSU the 1st half? 12 fricken yards of offense? Sparty will NOT win that game.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
YES.... dreams do come true. It is going to be nice having Michigan fans in the city this year compared to all the Ohio fans that polluted the city last year.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
It tastes so danm sweet
December 4th, 2011 at 8:24 PM ^
Hello Sugar Bowl! I love Selection Sundays!! I imagine the football team like this too!
December 4th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
Beat Va Tech!!
December 4th, 2011 at 8:30 PM ^
Correction: Beat Virginia!
December 4th, 2011 at 8:24 PM ^
I can't even watch them try to justify an Alabama-LSU rematch. There is just no credibility. Boycott the Nat'l Championship.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:26 PM ^
That's one way to guarantee another SEC Nat'l Champion
December 4th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^
I'm thinkiing we should just forget the BCS and crown the SEC champ as national champs at this point. At least we'll forget the charade.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
That's exactly what they want.
December 4th, 2011 at 10:15 PM ^
will finally lose in the MNC game.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^
Tell me about it. I have it on mute right now.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
Cool, this is actually a pretty intriguing matchup, in my mind.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:30 PM ^
#boycottbcschampionship
December 4th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
I certainly won't be watching.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
Occupy BCS Championship
December 4th, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^
the 108.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^
F that noise.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
Not only do we get to play a team we've never played before (I wonder how many BCS teams we've never played?) but they're a nationally recognized team. Casual fans will see this as a top matchup and will be more likely to watch than, say, a game against Kansas State or TCU, and a victory will look better. Plus, I think VT is very beatable: they only managed to beat Duke by 4 points and their only win over a team ranked when they played them was GT, who had a very up and down schedule.
On the other hand, VT's performance in their season-opener gives me some pause.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
Mandel said in his twitter that he'll be in New Orleans Jan 3rd and might not even stop by to watch the Sugar Bowl. I really don't understand that. It might not be a game between conference champs, but I think it is a very intruiging game.
December 4th, 2011 at 8:48 PM ^
"I really don't understand that."
I do. He's a Northwestern grad and a complete putz to boot. Fuck him.
December 4th, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
he's sort of a douche
December 4th, 2011 at 11:22 PM ^
That depends (pun intended), did he smell like Summer's Eve when you met him?
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