2012 Russell Athletic Bowl picks are going to be entertaining to make this year, as we have two teams that are going to be going at it against each other in what could be an unpredictable game in the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Join us for our Russell Athletic Bowl keys to the game and our Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech predictions.

Click Here For The Rest Of The 2012-13 Bowl Game Schedule And Other Bowl Game Previews

2012 Russell Athletic Bowl: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2012 Russell Athletic Bowl Location: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
2012 Russell Athletic Bowl Date/Time: Friday, December 28th, 5:30 p.m. (ET)
2012 Russell Athletic Bowl On TV: ESPN, Watch ESPN

Key #1: Virginia Tech needs to establish a running game with someone other than Logan Thomas
It’s nice to think that QB Logan Thomas is a dual threat quarterback that has the ability to put up big gains with his legs, but you don’t establish a ground game with a quarterback. You do so by jamming the ball right up the middle with the big boys and a runner. Historically, whether it be RB Ryan Williams or RB David Wilson, the Hokies have always had a big, strong back that ended the year with at least 1,000 yards, if not more on the ground. This year though, there just hasn’t been a back step up to the plate and do much of anything. In fact, Head Coach Frank Beamer’s offense really hasn’t even tried all that hard to establish the run this year. RB JC Coleman, RB Michael Holmes, RB Tony Gregory, and RB Martin Scales only average carrying the ball 22.8 times per game between them, and that just isn’t good enough at this level when you’re playing in the ACC. Rutgers is a tough team to move out of the way up front, as its front seven is as good as any unit in the Big East. However, if the Hokies have any intentions of winning this game, they had better get something going on the ground.

Russell Athletic Bowl Odds at BetGuardian Sportsbook
Virginia Tech Hokies -2.5
Rutgers Scarlet Knights +2.5
Over/Under 41
Click Here to Bet Your Russell Athletic Bowl Picks!

Key #2: These two quarterbacks have to hang onto the football
Both the Scarlet Knights and the Hokies threw 15 picks as a team this year, and neither QB Logan Thomas nor QB Gary Nova were able to make the big plays when their teams really needed it. Granted, Thomas does have a pair of receivers in WR Marcus Davis and WR Corey Fuller that both averaged nearly 20 yards per catch this year, so the deep ball was in play. However, Thomas also got himself into a lot of trouble in clutch spots in games to cost his team, which is why the Hokies have already been beaten by a pair of Big East teams this year. Nova was only picked off twice in his first six games of the year, but he threw six INTs against the Kent State Golden Flashes and has been intercepted six games in four games since that point. His confidence has to be shot, especially knowing that two of the last five passes that he threw in the de facto Big East Championship Game against the Louisville Cardinals were picked off to take away any hopes that the team had of playing in the BCS for the very first time.

Key #3: The Hokies have to take advantage of the Rutgers special teams
It’s known as Beamer Ball in Blacksburg, and the time is here for Head Coach Frank Beamer’s specialty to shine through in the biggest game of the team’s season. It feels like it has been awhile since the team had a blocked punt or a blocked field goal for a touchdown in a crucial spot to win a game, but that might be what it takes in this one. P AJ Hughes averaged 40.3 yards per boot this year. The team had both a punt return and a kick return for a touchdown this year, and Dimitri Knowles was a fantastic kick returner, putting together 595 return yards this year on just 21 attempts. K Cody Journell has struggled at times, but he has made at least one field goal in every game this year against an FBS foe. Rutgers has had to rotate kickers this year, and P Justin Doerner only averaged 37.4 yards per punt, something that has been problematic for a defensive-minded football team all season long.

Purchase Via Credit Card	Purchase By Paypal

Get An Exclusive 100% Sportsbook Bonus Courtesy of Bankroll Sports!
New BetUS Players Only: Must Mention Bankroll Sports at BetUS & Use This Link!
(Must Use Above Links – $100 Min. / $500 Max. – 50% Additional Bonus For Deposits Over $500)

College Football betting season will be here in just over a month! To get you ready, let’s take a look at the odds to win the very contentious Big East conference at Bankroll Sports, sponsored by BetUS.com.

Among the solid contenders for this year’s title are the Pittsburgh Panthers (+250 at BetUS). The offense has a new starting quarterback in sophomore Tino Sunseri, but new QBs are not uncommon this year in the conference. Plenty of talent surrounds him, starting with RB Dion Lewis, last season’s National Freshman of the Year. Sunseri will also have two talented throwing options in junior Jonathan Baldwin and sophomore Mike Shanahan. The defense will remain difficult to beat, with an excellent pair of pass rushing senior DEs in Jaball Sheard and Greg Romeus. Senior safety Dom DeCicco will anchor the secondary. The Panthers have a difficult schedule; they will face Connecticut and Cincinnati on the road, while hosting West Virginia. However, non-conference games against Utah and Miami(FL) will prepare this unit for Big East glory.

The Connecticut Huskies (+250 at BetUS.com) lost several close games last season, but return plenty of stars to take another crack at the title. It starts with senior QB Zach Frazer, who didn’t end up with impressive numbers last season, but had a strong finish. He is accompanied by junior running back Jordan Todman, a rising star in the Big East. The wide receiving corps is now lacking a big playmaker, but juniors Kashif and Isiah Moore at least have some experience. On defense, there is little concern. Eight starters return, including first-team all conference linebacker Lawrence Wilson. Three of the front four are also back. The Huskies kickoff conference play at Rutgers, but things are made slightly easier because Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Cincinnati all travel to East Hartford.

Looking to sneak into contention are the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+500 at BetUS). Their offense features the return of QB Tom Savage, who showed great talent last season as a freshman. With him will be a versatile weapon in sophomore WR Mohammed Sanu. Senior RB Joe Martinek will again lead the rushing attack, while freshman Casey Turner will provide a second option. The Knights’ defense could again be one of the best in the nation, let alone the conference. All-American DT Scott Vallone leads a large line upfront. Two senior starting linebackers return, and safety Joe Lefegad will lead the secondary. Rutgers opens conference play at home against Connecticut, with spread out road tests at Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and West Virginia.

The Big East is loaded with talent, but somebody has to lose. In the cellar, you will find the Louisville Cardinals (+800 at BetUS). First year head coach Charlie Strong is implementing a new spread offense for senior quarterback Adam Froman, who took a beating on the field and on the stat sheet last year. A razor thin wide receiving unit will be led by junior Doug Beaumont, who didn’t catch a touchdown pass last year, and sophomore Josh Chichester. The rushing attack will be led by three backs: Victor Anderson, Darius Ashley, and Bilal Powell. A defense that has just four starters returning will see plenty of new faces. Short of two senior linebackers coming back, several starters remain unnamed. The team is expecting big things from freshman DT De’Antre Rhodes. It will take awhile for this unit to gel, and the pressure will be on as the offense learns its new system.

Big East Odds @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 7/27/10):
(Get a HUGE 100% Bonus at BetUS.com When Using This Link)

Connecticut +250
Pittsburgh +250
West Virginia +250
Cincinnati +500
Rutgers +500
South Florida +500
Louisville +800
Syracuse +1500