The Virginia Tech Hokies and ESPN will invade New England this Thursday night for a titanic ACC battle with Boston College and the world's largest online sportsbook has the number set at Virginia Tech -3. Both teams had welcomed byes in their schedule last weekend to regroup for the second half of the season.

Head coach Frank Beamer of VT has had to did into his bag of motivating tools, as he and his troops are still licking the wounds from the beating that Georgia Tech laid on them in Blacksburg September 30th. As for the Eagles, they had an easy victory over Maine, just a week after suffering their first loss of the season, at the hands of North Carolina State.

BC has won the four lined betting games, by a grand total of 17 points and is lucky two be 2-2 against the spread. Their covers have come in overtime against Clemson and BYU, while they failed to cover the number at Central Michigan and at NC State.

Virginia Tech will get back wide receiver Josh Morgan and defensive end Chris Ellis who were suspended prior to that ill fated loss and they are impact players. Ellis is one of the No. 11 Hokies (4-0) most disruptive defensive linemen, recording 12 tackles this year, including one sack.

Morgan is Tech's second-leading receiver, with 10 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He blocked two punts, including one for a safety in the Hokies? 29-13 victory over Cincinnati this year.

As evidence by their victory over an extremely talented Clemson Tiger team, BC is tough at home, although V-Tech has enjoyed the hospitality that Bostonians have shown them over the years. Four times since 1995 the Hokies have played in Red Sox country and they have outscored the Eagles 138- 64.

The team's struggling offense is among the priorities Boston College (4-1, 1-1) addressed during its open weekend. With opposing teams not fearing the Eagles running game, nor its offensive line, as in past years, it has made life more difficult for QB Matt Ryan. Especially troubling, the Eagles are 9-for-28 on third-down conversions.

QB Matt Ryan has clearly been the top player. He went into the off weekend as the ACC's leader in total offense and passing yards per game (244.4). He became the first BC quarterback since Doug Flutie (1984) to pass for more than 1,000 yards after only four games.

The Eagles? defense forced four turnovers and limited Maine to 148 yards total offense. This is the kind of game when, if the defense is slacking off, then it gets competitive. The Eagles? defense forced four turnovers and limited Maine to 148 yards total offense. This is the kind of game when, if the defense is slacking off, then it gets competitive. BC's defense made sure that did not happen with a stifling effort.

The Eagles are embarrassed about their mediocre rushing attack. They currently rank seventh in ACC with 126 yards per-game. It's their lowest average since 1990.

QB Sean Glennon has been super for V-Tech after winning the job in the spring, the sophomore has played well in his first season as a starter. Protection broke down against Georgia Tech and he made a couple of turnovers following hard hits. But he is 78-of-136 passing for 1,116 yards No. 2 in the league and has seven touchdown throws against only 3 interceptions.

Special teams The Hokies have had two extra-point tries, one field-goal attempt (by backup PK Jared Develli), and a punt blocked this season. Considering the Hokies like to trumpet their skill at Beamerball named for Coach Frank Beamer's emphasis on special teams and the kicking game that has to rub Beamer the wrong way.

While weather will be in the low 60's there is a fair amount of precipitation lingering in the Massachusetts area, which could hinder throwing the pigskin and thus you may want to look at the over/under which hovers presently round 42.

The great customer service staff never sleeps at my favorite online sportsbook www.sportsbook.com, so consider these tidbits I have supplied you with and make a wager!

Bob Acton