In the event that you go through the 2011 Virginia Tech baseball schedule, you will see many familiar things but in addition some new things we haven't observed in recent years. In 2011 the Hokies may have their normal ACC opponents equally house and traveling, including a couple of large page Thursday evening games. But what is lacking that we've seen recently could be the large page out-of-conference match-up that always comes early in the season.
Lately, Virginia Tech has started the summer season with a higher page out-of-conference match-up. This can be quite a created for TV sport that is against an initial opponent that is placed, and the overall game is hyped all during the off-season [pii_email_37f47c404649338129d6]. Virginia Tech has played games such as this against USC, LSU, Alabama, and last year Boise State. While these games create good anticipation for the summer season, and good drive for the team, they've a drawback (well, at the very least for the Hokies) for the reason that Virginia Tech has missing most of them. This puts them in an instantaneous opening to start the season.
We don't know if this really is intentional or maybe not, but the 2011 period does not have this type of game. In fact, there's no compelling out-of-conference match-up on the schedule at all. On the opposite, the Hokies start the summer season with 4 OOC opponents from 'mid-major' meetings, including a games against East Carolina, Arkansas State, Marshall, and a Div I-AA team Appalachian State. Despite being I-AA, Appalachian State is a great plan who has contented for a number of recent national championships.
Following those four opening games, the Hokies enter into ACC action whole move for the remaining portion of the season. In 2011, Virginia Tech has house games against Clemson, Ohio, Boston School, and North Carolina (UNC). They are traveling in the ACC against Wake Forest, Duke, Georgia Tech, and Virginia (UVa). A deeper search reveals some intriguing observations.
The Hokies clearly have a favorable ACC schedule. Their toughest opponents are in the home (Clemson, Ohio, BC, and UNC). The reduced opponents are traveling (Wake, Duke, and UVa). The ACC schedule lines up perfectly for the Hokies in 2011.
Also, provided the Hokies is going to be breaking in a new quarterback in 2011 (Logan Thomas can take over for graduating Tyrod Taylor), having 4 mid-major teams to open the summer season is obviously an advantage. This absolutely provides Hokies to be able to break in Thomas before hitting the harder ACC schedule.
Finally, while there's no huge early period OOC match-up, you will have some huge TV games for Virginia Tech this year. Especially, the Hokies can perform at Georgia Tech and in the home against UNC in back again to back Thursday evening games in November. Virginia Tech compared to UNC baseball passes is going to be some of the very difficult to obtain in 2011
