Bodog Beat

Virginia Tech football fans received some bad news yesterday. (Wikimedia Images)

In the NFL, it seems somewhat common for a difference-making skill position player to suffer a season-ending injury in training camp (or preseason). That's not usually the case in college football, for whatever reason.

Of course there are exceptions to prove every rule, and that's unfortunately the case for ACC favorite Virginia Tech. The Hokies learned on Tuesday that they won't have star running back Darren Evans this season after he tore his ACL during practice.

I would argue this injury not only significantly alters the season and betting futures for the Hokies, but also those of Alabama, Georgia Tech and possibly North Carolina and Miami.

Evans set ACC and school records for freshmen with 1,265 rushing yards last season and 11 touchdowns despite starting only eight games. He was the MVP of the Orange Bowl victory over Cincinnati when he rushed for 153 yards and scored a touchdown. Evans is the workhorse on that offense and a safety net for QB Tyrod Taylor, who is an inconsistent passer at best. Evans and Taylor were the only Hokies to rush for more than 250 yards last year.

Now the starting tailback, at least on the current depth chart, is Josh Oglesby. He only managed 88 yards on 38 carries as a redshirt freshman last year. It's likely that redshirt freshman Ryan Williams and true freshman David Wilson will be part of a tailback-by-committee now. Senior Kenny Lewis Jr. probably will be part of the mix, but he is expected to miss at least the first few games as he recovers from his own injury; it was when Lewis went down last year that Evans took over and took off.

I thought Virginia Tech was excellent value at 16/1 to win the BCS title – but wouldn't recommend that bet now. The Hokies' regular-season over/under win total was 9 1/2, but as of this writing Tech was not listed on Bodog any longer in that category, no doubt because oddsmakers are changing that total. I would have said take the over but don't think this team can win more than nine games maximum with this injury.

Virginia Tech is still the co-favorite on Bodog at 5/2 odds to win the ACC championship, but now I love Georgia Tech at 13/2. The Jackets, by the way, get the Hokies in Atlanta this year. And don't rule out North Carolina (5/1 to win the ACC) or Miami (11/2) to win the Coastal Division and sneak into the ACC title game.

As for how it affects Alabama, I believe it increases the Tide's chances of winning it the national title (currently 16/1). With Evans, the preseason No. 7 Hokies would have beaten No. 5 Alabama in that opener in Atlanta in my opinion. Now the Tide should be able to pull out the win, and that could make a huge difference comes BCS standings time.

Virginia Tech still has an excellent defense, some talented running backs and will be a very good team. But Evans' injury is truly a season-shifter, and not just for the Hokies.

Bet on college football at Bodog, where you can get all your football futures.