VT has a better shot than a lot of people think in this game. USC loses 4 OL if I'm not mistaken plus Williams and Colbert and that's just the offense. The defense should be great too.

The Hokies are underrated this year though after being overrated for a couple years. They have belonged in the 15-25 range the past couple years, but because they keep rolling through their schedules early, they get a high ranking. I know you're going to say that the schedules were easy, but wins over LSU, Texas A&M (home AND away), and Marshall are nothing to scoff at. Tech always plays well early. People talk about the loss of Kevin Jones, but he was overrated. He lacked toughness. Humes has this and while he doesn't have Jones's athletic ability, he should break 1000. Randall is a solid QB. The OL lost Grove, but brings back a very talented bunch with Jon Dunn and Will Montongery leading the way. TE Jeff King is developing nicely. At WR, Eddie Royal is a freshman with the potential to be special though Chris Clifton will be the feature receiver for VT this year. Clifton is a just like Ernest Wilford, but with speed.

On defense, the DL won't be that strong, but it won't be weak either. The Lewis brothers are decent DTs while Jim Davis returns at one end after missing last season. The LBs will be young as VT will be starting two freshmen by the end of the year in Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall. These two won't start against USC, but they will play a lot. The DBs are solid with Jimmy Williams being a 6'3 210 CB with 4.4 speed. Eric Green has been solid and Jimmy Griffin had an amazing Spring at Rover.

All in all, I think USC will win on opening day, but it'll be closer than many people predict.

USC 27 Virginia Tech 14

I also think that VT has a shot. Rebuilding an OL is a tough way to defend a NC. VT has a lot of talent. It's young talent but it's there.