#18 R.P.I. U.c.l.a. Vs. #33 R.P.I. Virginia Tech:

New Year’s Eve day, Virginia Tech travels to Texas El Paso for some just north of the boarder in-order. Or so well all hope.

As Virginia Tech is the rightful underdog in this one and if you do not believe that one –sadly enough- just ask #14’s right leg. As I really would favor our chances in this one with Trey Edumnd’s who truly was rounding into his own with a healthier hip that was ready to Charlie-horse the opposition. As sans Trey’s formerly unbroken right twig, we are an imbalanced offense that will make it only as far as LT3 can wing us; or drag us vs. a rather sizey U.c.l.a. front-7. LT3 however is prolly due for a hawt or at least temperate variety of game. Unless of course he is not.

(FOLLOW me on Twitter, or my trip nieces and nephew will cry!)

As the match-ups here, quite frankly, are not far removed from even; either way. U.c.l.a. is not unbeatable and a Vah.Tech victory is not umpossible. At least not on film.

Today’s word (or term) of the day is…Good Guy

(adjective-noun)

1. Logan Thomas,
2. LT3,
3. #3,
4. …done all he can; ’nuff said.

 

U.c.l.a. Defense: (starters back=8)

U.c.l.a. Offense: (returning starters=6)

U.c.l.a. Special Teams: (1 returns)
EPIC KO returns (5^th best); and the gold-medal winner that we will face in this department all year. Punting, punt returns, and coverage are all noticeably better than average. Zero kick blocks allowed combined all year –against 4 opposing boots that got snuffed out! Pushy shovey looking ST’s after the play on film, opportunity for penalties does exist under deadball situations. Decent enough FG kicking with a decent enough leg (70%); though not exactly all-world either. This Brew-crew surely enjoys the Special Teams advantage here.

Third most penalized team in American football; could be some hidden yardage to be tacked on here; as discipline is clearly not a Brew-crew calling card; and this is exceptionally unusual for such a well coached set of Special Teams. Go fig’? Also, there are a lotta pre-game tough guys here; and a very sporting slice of those guys will play precisely as much as I will on Tuesday, and as I have for the last quarter of a century as well.
(Special Teams letter-grade: A+, could even be higher; with another FG-make; or two)

X–factor(s):
Trey’s snapped right-leg, or LT3’s right-arm. Let’s hope all is right with the O&M world come 6pm Tuesday evening.

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Illation, conclusion(s) and OPT digits:
(EDITOR’s note: more coming Monday…….)

     Sans Trey and LT3 needs to have one of his Top-3 games of this year in order to win.  However it is imminently fair to ask of that is putting too much on LT3’s small-forward sized shoulders and/or more explicitly, his right-arm? In the past it has been, and yet there have been a few pretty damn smooth passing games outta that very same circumspect right-arm; at times, at least here and there. If that shakes out to be El Paso flavored hawt-sauce or weak-sauce in street parlance remains to be seen. However there will be Pro scouts there in abundance and that could indeed bring next-level Hawthorn Effect(s) into play big and bold.

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Then we arrive back at the fact that this Bruin squad does some really stoopid, mouthy, wannabe-Alpha, oozing machismo ass-S on film. And that might just tick Tech off a bit will all of this chicanery as well. Just ask uva how well the Hokie temperament or team disposition responds to nonsense such as this. As there is more than a hint of dirt and or wannabe thug here from Mora’s crew in breaking tape. How this imported and prolly quite happy to be there (warmer climate in the Wintertime) Big-10 crew will respond is anybodies guess. Though it is not very assumptive at all to aver that a stricter whistle on a tighter leash actually favors Virginia Tech in this one, as a blind man can see how U.c.l.a. acts out on film, with a cane. (note: that from a writer who typically hangs out in the “let ‘em play” camp for big games and the post-season; let the players decide the game)

***

Try as I might to manufacture a Holiday gift of picking Virgina Tech to upset favorite U.c.l.a. in this one … I ultimately failed and failure is the anonymity or bane of A-students everywhere.  That however is precisely where this one is; as Virginia Tech would have to unleash their A-game and hope that a pretty damn hot U.c.l.a brew-crew cools off a bit after taking down crosstown rival So.Cal and having pocketed 4 of their last 5. That however is pretty much this game is … and as the old saying goes; where you stand is where you sit.

And Mora and U.c.l.a. appear like they plan on sitting on formerly mightily Vah.Tech in this one; and believe you me, that will leave the TSL MB’s howling if U.c.l.a. plays so brashly or at times as wannabe-Alpha thuggy as I just saw on film.

Observe that it was the Bruins recent offensvie play that was my swing-vote and this could prove offensive indeed. As U.c.l.a. has put up not less than 31 points since prior to Halloween. Whereas the not-so-great Scot offense has put up more than 31 once since o9.o6 in point of fact. That’s not good and that’s not a good match-up; just ask Trey’s poor busted right-leg. The average number of total offense to the good during that 4-1 streak in favor of the Bruins you ask? A mere 18.8 ypg … or offensive indeed.

Or in other words, these Bruins are paper tigers, I love Frank, hear me roar!
And here you thought I was gonna pick U.c.la. …

 Virginia Tech=19,  U.c.l.a.=18

“LETS GO!“

“HOKIES!“

bourbonstreet**