Virginia and VMI will meet for the 82nd time Saturday in Charlottesville. The two teams have not played each other since a 42-0 UVA win in 1991. The Wahoos lead the series 55-23-3, and are expected to win this game in a convincing fashion.
VMI faced Virginia in the first game ever played at Scott Stadium on October 15, 1931. The Paramount Theatre, also a Charlottesville landmark opened in 1931 as well.
The game is available to watch on ESPN3 if you have Comcast as your cable provider. Virginia is coming off their bye-week, and is 1-1 on the young season. VMI, who by all accounts is in the midst of a major rebuilding effort, is coached by former Virginia assistant Sparky Woods. Virginia’s defensive coordinator Jim Reid was the head coach at VMI in 2006, and 2007.
Cavalier fans will find out Saturday who the backup is at quarterback. Senior Marc Verica has taken every snap at QB so far in 2010, and Mike London has never publicly said who his back-up is. Redshirt freshman Ross Metheny should get plenty of action Saturday against the Keydets.
Virginia does not have another QB other than Verica that has taken a snap in a college game. Look for Virginia to use at least 2 quarterbacks Saturday, perhaps even three. True freshman Michael Rocco has had a great summer and has looked sharp in practice, but London still might chose to redshirt him for the future unless Verica becomes injured or totally ineffective. Freshman Michael Strauss looks to be the 4th option at QB for the Hoos this year, and he should also redshirt to preserve his eligibility for the future.
VMI is coming off a 2-9 season, and they have completely scrapped the option offense that Sparky Woods ran his first two years in Lexington. They are coming off a bye-week as well, and in their last outing VMI got hammered 45-0 by William and Mary.
Both Rodney McLeod, and Ras-I Dowling should see their first action of the season for the Wahoos Saturday. This game could get ugly early for the over-matched Keydets. Look for Virginia to attempt to rest many of their starters in the second-half in preparation for the HUGE game next weekend in Charlottesville. Florida State comes to town Saturday in what is shaping up to be a very important game in Mike London’s early tenure in C-Ville.
If Virginia can steamroll VMI, and then somehow muster up the win against the Seminoles, well then perhaps Coach London’s rebuilding process will be way ahead of schedule!
Prediction? Hoos 55 VMI 13. Go Hoos! Beat the Hokies!