The Wiz of Odds

Virginia

Big step back in 2012 for Virginia, which finished 4-8 after an 8-5 season in 2011. The Cavaliers play Brigham Young and Oregon in the first two weeks of the season.

Poster Approval Rating: Virginia
	Approve
	Disapprove
pollcode.com free polls

Virginia

They're thinking big at Virginia, which is remarkable considering where the program was only two years ago when Mike London was hired. London's first team finished 4-8, but it set the groundwork for last season's 8-5 squad, which earned a berth to the Peach Bowl. So where does Virginia go from here? The 10-win mark would be nice, but the first order of business is beating rival Virginia Tech, which has won eight in a row and 12 of 13 in the series.

Click the image to enlarge. Thanks to Terri.

Virginia

Virginia was 4-4 entering November, then staggered to a 4-8 record in Mike London's first season as coach. Nonetheless, London's team took important steps in 2010, including a victory over Miami. The goal in 2011 is a bowl game, certainly a possibility given that five of the Cavaliers' first seven games are at home.

Click the image to enlarge. Thanks to Terri.

Virginia

New coach Mike London shouldn't have to spend much time scouting Richmond, the Cavaliers' first opponent. He coached the Spiders for two seasons, compiling a 24-5 record that included winning the Division I-AA national championship in 2008. London, who is also a former Virginia assistant, faces a Herculean rebuilding job, but he grew up in Hampton and went to college at Richmond and that gives him ties to two of the most fertile recruiting areas in the state. Nonetheless, it's going to take him at least a couple of seasons to get the Cavaliers back to respectability.

As a run-up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

Last year, the site displayed 69 posters. This is poster No. 57 for 2010. Thanks to Terri!

Big Hits

Three big hits from Saturday, starting with Virginia's Chase Minnifield getting decked by Georgia Tech's Malcolm Munroe. Minnifield was not hurt.

Virginia

The Cavaliers are coming off a disappointing 5-7 season and Al Groh, 56-44 in eight seasons as coach, is on the hot seat. Nonconference home games against William & Mary (I-AA), Texas Christian and Indiana are sandwiched around trips to Southern Mississippi and Atlantic Coast Conference opponent North Carolina.