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2009 FedEx Orange Bowl Predictions
The Virginia Tech Hokies will face the Cincinnati Bearcats in the FedEx Orange Bowl on January 1 at 8:30 p.m. in Miami.

The Hokies reached the Orange Bowl by virtue of winning the ACC championship game over the Boston College Eagles. Virginia Tech benefitted from the parity in the ACC that allowed them to still win the Coastal division despite not having one of their better teams.

The Cincinnati Bearcats reached the Orange Bowl by winning the Big East regular season title. It certainly didn't hurt that the Big East was considered the worst major conference in the country this year.

This is one of the least anticipated BCS bowl games in recent memory, but that certainly isn't the case for the fans from these two respective schools.

The Bearcats lost just two games this year, falling at Oklahoma and Connecticut in big routs. They finished the season with six straights wins, a number of them tight games that helped them earn a trip to the Orange Bowl.

Their defense carried them for much of the season, which is one thing they have in common with the Hokies.

Virginia Tech has a major advantage in terms of experience, as it seems the Hokies have made it a habit of crashing a BCS bowl game. That will serve them well, at least early in the game.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 23, Cincinnati 17