Rooting for their team clearly represents one of the big passions in the life of our TechSideline.com community members. This site greatly enhances this never-ending passion through information, analysis and most importantly through communal dialog and networking.

Our advertising approach is different in that we make it abundantly clear in a direct and honest way that your company's commitment of sponsorship dollars is what enables the site to continue existing and improving into the future.

To learn more about advertising on TechSideline.com, please visit our advertising info page:
http://www.techsideline.com/advertising

TechSideline.com is a vital part of a unique collegiate sports network that reaches nearly 2 million individuals per month. Like TechSideline.com, each site in the SportsWar network is an organically grown community and the emotional home for its fans.

To learn more about SportsWar network sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected] or visit our online media guide- http://www.sportswar.com. 

Virginia Tech hosts Georgia Tech in a huge ACC Coastal Division showdown on Saturday afternoon. Conventional wisdom would suggest that the Hokies have the advantage, since the game is played in Lane Stadium, which is widely considered one of the best environments in college football. However, recent evidence would suggest that VT is better off playing games away from Lane Stadium.

Let's take a look at the numbers first. Here is how the Hokies have fared in home conference games since ACC expansion.

That's a good record, but for all the hooplah Lane Stadium gets, you would think it would be better. Meanwhile, the Hokies are downright dominant on the road in ACC games.

Virginia Tech's only road loss in conference play came at Boston College in 2006. That's a very impressive stat.

However, if Lane Stadium is such an impressive environment, then why has one team won in Blacksburg every year since conference expansion? In fact, you have to go all the way back to 2000 for the last time the Hokies were unbeaten at home.

My theory is that there are very few big-time college football environments in the ACC. When a team comes to Lane Stadium, it might be that team's only chance of the season to play in a top notch atmosphere. As a result, that team comes in fired up, and sometimes pulls out a win.

The last four teams to beat Tech in Blacksburg are NC State, Miami, Georgia Tech and Boston College. None of those places, except for maybe NC State in a good year, have major game day environments, particularly Boston College and Miami. The 'Canes play in front of a very small crowd each week, and the BC fans aren't noted for their ability to rock Chestnut Hill. You think those guys are fired up when they get a chance to play in Blacksburg in a nationally televised game? Yeah, I think so. BC has won in Blacksburg two of the past three times.

Tomorrow, Georgia Tech will get a chance to become the first team since ACC expansion to win twice in Blacksburg. Time will tell if they can get it done.

It appears that Virginia Tech will have the services of defensive end Jason Worilds and whip linebacker Cam Martin for tomorrow's game. Worilds' shoulder popped out against Furman, and Martin pulled up lame with a groin injury. Both returned to practice this week, and it appears they will play tomorrow.

Worilds is the biggest question mark. Not only did his shoulder pop out last week, but he spent the preseason nursing a sore hamstring. If he's not effective, expect to see a lot of Nekos Brown.

The Yellow Jackets have their share of injuries as well. Starting linebackers Anthony Barnes and Brad Jefferson will definitely miss the game, and middle linebacker Shane Bowen has been banged up as well. Georgia Tech could be starting a backup at all three linebacker spots on Saturday.