2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl – The Michigan Wolverines had one of the most pleasantly surprising seasons of any big-time college football program anywhere this season. Now, the rebuilding of one of the game’s most storied collegiate football programs will continue when the Wolverines face the ‘fortunate’ Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl on Tuesday, January 3, live from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA at 8:30 PM ET. The Hokies are feeling fortunate after they got one heck of a ‘gift’ in getting the ACC’s first-ever at-large bid to a BCS Bowl game despite getting blown out by Clemson twice this season. Okay, football gamblers, let’s take a look at the matchup here.

2012 Sugar bowl
Michigan vs. Virginia Tech
Date: January 3rd 2012 8:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN and ESPN3
Pick: CLICK HERE FOR THE WINNING BETTING PICK
Point Spread: Michigan Wolverines (-2.5) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (+2.5) Over/Under 51

Michigan Wolverines (10-2 SU, 8-4 ATS, 5-7 O/U)
Michigan was the surprise team in the Big Ten’ this season, winning 10 games in head coach Brady Hoke’s first year to make its first BCS game appearance since playing in the Rose Bowl back in 2007.

The Wolverines have won three straight coming into this contest, including their 40-34 win over Ohio State in their regular season finale. Michigan failed to cash in that day as an 8.5-point home favorite to snap it modest two-game ATS winning streak but are 6-3 ATS over its L/9 games and 2-1 ATS over its last three games overall.

Michigan averaged a fine 34.2 points per game this season (23rd) thanks mostly to their 12th-ranked rushing attack (235.7 ypg), which is spearheaded by athletically-gifted junior quarterback Denard Robinson. The fleet-footed future NFL star threw 18 TD passes and rushed for a whopping 14 scores on the ground, though he did throw 16 picks along the way.

The Wolverines allowed a paltry 17.2 points per game defensively, good for seventh in the nation as they consistently shut down their opponents’ passing attacks (188.5 ypg).

The Wolverines are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite. Unfortunately, the Wolverines are also 1-7 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite of 3.0 points or less.

The Over is 5-0 in Michigan’s L/5 neutral site games and a nearly perfect 10-1 in their last 11 Bowl games overall.

CLICK HERE FOR THE MICHIGAN VS. VIRGINIA TECH WINNING PICK
CLICK HERE FOR FREE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

Virginia Tech Hokies (11-2 SU, 4-9 ATS, 4-8-1 O/U)
Virginia Tech got pounded unmercifully in its 38-10 regular season finale against Clemson, but somehow ended up with a higher ranking – and more prestigious bowl game than the Tigers –thanks to the lunacy that is the BCS bowl selection process.

Nevertheless, the Hokies will look to get the big win here and they had been red-hot I winning seven straight until losing to Clemson and failing to cash in as a 7-point road favorite.

The Hokies averaged 28.5 points per game this season (56th), while averaging a whopping 188.7 rushing yards per game (31st).

Defensively, Virginia Tech allowed 17.2 points per contest defensively to finish one spot behind Michigan in this category, but really, the Hokies were very good across the board on defense, finishing 13th in total yards (313.9 ypg), 41st against the pass and a stellar 17th against the run (107.8 ypg).

Speedy running back David Wilson is the Hokies’ big star and for good reason as the junior rushed for 1,631 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Virginia Tech is 5-2 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog of 3.0 points or less and 18-8 ATS in their L/26 games against a team with a winning record.

The bad news for the Hokies betting backers is the fact that they’ve also gone 3-9 ATS in their last dozen games and a winless 0-4 ATS in their L/4 non-conference games.

The Under is 4-0 in Virginia Tech’s last four games against non-conference opponents, 6-1 in their last seven games in the month of January and an identical 4-1 in their last five neutral site games as an underdog.

If you enjoyed this Michigan vs. Virginia Tech Sugar Bowl pick and point spread preview, be sure to visit Touthouse.com this entire bowl season for winning college football predictions from our professional sports handicappers.

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