Chick-fil-A Bowl preview: Virginia Tech's schedule and animated drive charts

To close out the football season, we're going to do the opponent preview a bit differently. Rather than throw everything into a single gigantic post, we'll dribble them out bit by bit. Up first, is a look at Virginia Tech's schedule and the corresponding drive charts.

Alabama Crimson Tide	9/5/09	loss 24 - 34	coverage
Marshall Thundering Herd	9/12/09	win 52 - 10	coverage
Nebraska Cornhuskers	9/19/09	win 16 - 15	coverage
Miami Hurricanes	9/26/09	win 31 - 7	coverage
@ Duke Blue Devils	10/3/09	win 34 - 26	coverage
Boston College Eagles	10/10/09	win 48 - 14	coverage
@ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	10/17/09	loss 23 - 28	coverage
North Carolina Tar Heels	10/29/09	loss 17 - 20	coverage
@ East Carolina Pirates	11/5/09	win 16 - 3	coverage
@ Maryland Terrapins	11/14/09	win 36 - 9	coverage
N.C. State Wolfpack	11/21/09	win 38 - 10	coverage
@ Virginia Cavaliers	11/28/09	win 42 - 13	coverage

The Hokies' drive charts, beginning with the only opponent they played in common with Tennessee:

File this in the "whatever it's worth" category, but as much as you hear about VTech's defense, Tennessee's did a better job against Alabama. Of course, we caught Alabama at the tail end of a long stretch, and both the Hokies and the Tide were fresh when they first met. Plus, it was the first game and all, and Virginia Tech also scored twice as many points as we did, which you wouldn't expect. In fact, let's just put this whole thing in the "it's probably not worth much at all" category.

And the rest of Virginia Tech's games:

That there's an all-out throttling of the bearded bison. Conclusion: Hokies, whatever they are, are invulnerable to hangovers. And they like game meat.

When the drive chart looks like pointillism, the only conclusion is mutual offensive futility. The Hokies defense kept the Cornhuskers out of the end zone, but it was the offense that finally won the game by scoring a second touchdown.

This was actually the game against Miami (the drive chart thingamajiggybob doesn't like shifting naming conventions). Anyway, the Hokies allowed only one TD and otherwise scorched the Hurricanes, who might as well have been what the computer thought they were (FCS) for this game.

Again, stingy red zone defense, although Duke did get into the end zone twice. On the other end, Virginia Tech rolled, getting four TDs and two FGs.

Quick start full throttle. Except for those two late TDs, Boston College's drives ended poorly: nine punts, two interceptions, and a fumble. In other words, Beamer Ball.

Solid game against a good Paul Johnson-coached team here. Made a game of it late, but couldn't overcome two early interceptions.

Looks like the Hokies lost this one due to a late fumble in the danger zone, which allowed the Tar Heels to hit a game-winning field goal.

Well. That whole "invulnerable to hangovers" thing? Maybe not. They really shouldn't have struggled this much against Captain D's, but they did pull it out, so you know.

Nothing to see here but a mauling of a poor turtle who's dumb enough to lead with his belly rather than his shell.

Oh, my. Look at the turnovers. BEAMER! (Said in Jerry Seinfeld "Newman" voice.)

Hey, orange versus maroon. Let's hope for a different result on New Year's Eve.

Up next: Tech's national unit rankings.