Fan the Flames Football Preview Game #1: Virginia Tech

After a lengthy hiatus, its so good to be back and so good to be ready for some football this weekend as the Liberty Flames kick off their 2016 season against the biggest I-A/FBS opponent in the school's history.

When we last left the Flames they had just knocked off a top 5 Coastal Carolina squad and sent them packing from the Big South as they begin the transition to FBS and the Sun Belt Conference.

A lot has changed since that game...4 year starter Josh Woodrum has graduated (and left as the all time leading passer in Flames football history) along with Darrin Peterson, Chima Uzowihe and a hoest of others, and the Flames find themselves looking up at Charleston Southern in both the rankings and the Big South preseason standings. If Liberty wants to take its place as the alpha dog of the conference again, they are going to do it with a lot of new faces...and that quest starts with this weekend, so let's break down this week's matchup:

Liberty (0-0, 0-0 Big South)

vs. 

Virginia Tech (0-0, 0-0 ACC)

Matchup

Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA

Series: First Meeting

Last Meeting: First Meeting

Kickoff: 12:30 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Virginia Tech/IMG Sports Network (Virginia Tech) John Laaser play-by-play

Television: ACC Network/ESPN3 Tom Werme play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (5th Season at Liberty 29-19 Record), Justin Fuente (1st Season at VT, 0-0 Record)

Last Week: Season opener for both squads

Despite being only 2 hours away from Blacksburg (and only 90 minutes from Charlottesville), this is Liberty's first ever matchup with an in-state FBS team (ODU was transitioning when they met). Liberty has won at least one FBS matchup the last two seasons after winning two FBS matchups total in the previous 41 seasons COMBINED. The Hokies have had great success against the FCS, with their only loss coming to James Madison (in Blacksburg of all places) in 2010. Liberty though, has managed to play up against FBS opponents, particularly P5 schools, despite having no wins against P5 conference teams in school history. Tech is favored by 27.5 points, but Liberty has covered the last 6 times they have played FBS opponents, including two straight up wins (over Appalachian State in 2014 and Georgia State last year).

In my heart I want to pick Liberty to get a major upset win, but having followed VT most of my life as a lifelong Virginian, and understanding that first year head coach Justin Fuente will want to make a statement, I will pick VT to win this one, but Liberty again covers and shows that they do not back down from anyone, even the big bad Hokies, and sets off on another dream season

Liberty 17
Virginia Tech 41