Quarterbacks
Edge: Virginia Tech
Michael Vick is having a sensational season and gets the edge over Tim Hasselbeck. I'm not sure what Vick does best. He runs the ball well and had two big plays last week in the win over Temple. He throws the deep ball as well as anyone in college football. He is only a redshirt freshman, but plays like a senior, showing great composure. He has not been rattled this season, even though he got knocked around in the Miami game. He is the Big East Player of the Year and the nation's third-rated passer.

The one question is whether or not he can be effective throwing the ball 30 times a game. He is averaging only 15 passes per game. No one has been able to force him to throw more than that. Hasselbeck is coming off a great game against Notre Dame -- 20-of-30 passing, 272 yards, three TD passes, and one rushing touchdown. His performance against the Irish will help his confidence against Virginia Tech. The key for him will be keeping his composure in Blacksburg, where we have seen the crowd rattle opposing quarterbacks.

	GILMORE'S GRADES
	Boston College		Virginia Tech
		QB	X
		RB	X
	X	WR/TE
	X	OL
		DL	X
		LB	X
		DB	X
		Special teams	X
	X	Coaching	X

Running backs
Edge: Virginia Tech
Ordinarily, this category would be rated even, but one factor hurts Boston College. Cedric Washington suffered a sprained left knee against Notre Dame, so I don't know how effective he will be. He has been having a great year, rushing for 1,027 yards. I expect to see Boston College play a two-tight end set to help spring the running game. Shyrone Stith is the Hokies' man in the running game. Somewhat overlooked because of Vick, Stith has quietly rushed for 1,022 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging five yards a carry.

Receivers/Tight ends
Edge: Boston College
Tight end Bryan Arndt earns the Eagles an edge. The Hokies don't throw the ball to the tight ends much, but Arndt has 23 receptions, three for touchdowns. He could be a big factor for the Eagles if they can get him isolated against a linebacker. The receivers are even. For Boston College, redshirt freshman Jamal Burke has emerged recently. He gives the Eagles what they have been lacking, a big-play threat downfield. He had two touchdowns last week and is averaging more than 26 yards a catch. Without him, the Eagles don't attack down the field.

BC's leading receiver Dedrick Dewalt averages under 14 yards a catch, but Burke opens things up for the Eagles passing game. He is a difference-maker. Virginia Tech has Andre Davis, averaging 26 yards a catch to go with seven touchdowns. He has made tremendous plays against single coverage. Ricky Hall has been a sensational secondary receiver.

Offensive line
Edge: Boston College
Both offensive lines have tough assignments this week because they are facing solid defensive fronts. But Boston College's line has only allowed 12 sacks. The Eagles have no stars up front, but they play well as a unit. Michael Cook and Darnell Alford are solid bookend tackles. I like them as a group. The Virginia Tech line has been a little sloppy in recent games. The Hokies linemen have gotten away with a lot of holding in the last two games I have watched, and not a lot of it has been called.

Vick has been making plays when things have broken down. The line hasn't played poorly from a statistical standpoint, but on the game tapes the holding is there, and Vick is being flushed out of the pocket. He ends up making plays on his own. Boston College's line is playing better than Virginia Tech's. Plus, the Hokies struggled early against Temple trying to punch it in inside the 30-yard line. That close to the end zone, they need better play out of their offensive line.

Defensive line
Edge: Virginia Tech
Defensive ends Corey Moore and John Engelberger get all the attention. What people overlook are the Hokies' defensive tackles, Nathaniel Williams and Carl Bradley. It starts with them, tying things up inside to allow Moore and Engelberger to be as effective on the outside as they are. Moore has a team-high 15 sacks, and the Hokies have 52 as a unit. But Williams and Bradley make it happen.

For the Eagles, Chris Hovan is having a great season, but it's not fair to compare the Boston College defensive line alone against Virginia Tech. Hovan is deserving of the accolades he is getting as a Lombardi Award candidate. He has eight sacks. He can play with that Hokie defensive line, which still gets a tremendous edge.

Linebackers
Edge: Virginia Tech
As a group, I like the Hokies. But as an individual, I'm not sure anyone is better than the Eagles' Frank Chamberlin, the leading tackler. He is having a great year and has shown the ability to have huge games, as he did against Miami. But for Virginia Tech, Michael Hawkes had an interception against Temple. Jamal Smith is the leading tackler, a player nobody talks about. Ben Taylor is a solid player for them. Look at the statistics: The Hokies allow an amazing 1.9 yards per carry and only 10 points a game.

Defensive backs
Edge: Virginia Tech
Cornerbacks Ike Charlton and Anthony Midget are hot in terms of making big plays in the Hokies' secondary. Midget has been banged up, but you wouldn't know it by his performance. Boston College has gotten big plays from its defensive backs, like Jonathan Ordway and free safety Pedro Cirino, who had a last-second interception against Notre Dame, but they haven't been as consistent as the Hokies. The Eagles secondary will need big plays against Virginia Tech.

Special teams
Edge: Virginia Tech
Shayne Graham is an all-conference kicker who had a game-winning field goal against West Virginia. On the other side, John Matich has been a little shaky for the Eagles. He had some early-season misses and has made only nine of 17 attempts. In the return game, DuJuan Daniels had a 100-yard, game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown against Syracuse, so he has the ability to break one at any time. But the Hokies' Ricky Hall has taken several punts back a significant distance. Virginia Tech has a reputation for great special teams. That has an impact on a game, making teams nervous about dealing with the Hokies.

Coaching
Edge: Even
Frank Beamer and his staff are having a great season and seem to be making the right moves and not panicking, as they could have against Miami and West Virginia. Meanwhile, Boston College's Tom O'Brien managed the game well against Notre Dame and didn't panic when the Irish came back. The coaches kept the players focused. They have shown their mettle in pressure game situations.