College Football Picks: No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech Hokies; Betting Line Alabama by -7 (37 o/u); TV - ABC-HD; Georgia Dome; Kickoff 8 pm ET.

Alabama and Virginia Tech kick off the College Football Picks season in primetime versus No. 7 Virginia Tech at the Georgia Dome in what is regarded by most as college football’s premiere game on opening weekend. This will be Alabama’s third game in the Dome in its last 15 games.  Alabama opened up the 2008 season versus highly ranked Clemson in the Georgia Dome as well as battled eventual national champion Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama last met Virginia Tech in what was the first ever playing of the Music City Bowl, a 38-7 Hokie victory in 1998, which is the only Virginia Tech win in the history of the series.

College Football Picks professionals at online super sportsbook Bodog.com list the Crimson Tide as 7-chalk favorites with a 37 total.

Alabama returns six of its front seven and all four linebackers. Rolando McClain was a Butkus finalist in 2008. McClain led the team with 95 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and broke up six passes last season. Joining McClain at linebacker is Freshman All-America Dont’a Hightower. All-American noseguard Terrence Cody anchors the defensive line. Three of four starters in the secondary return including All-SEC Javier Arenas.

Alabama is led offensively by Greg McElroy takes over at quarterback with the loss of three-year starter John Parker Wilson. Joining McDlroy in the backfield is running back Mark Ingram who totaled 743 yards as a freshman last season.

Virginia Tech welcomes the return of 16 starters including 8 on offense, where quarterback Tyrod Taylor returns to run the show. Taylor, who was in and out of the lineup with injuries in 2008, still managed to run for 738 yards and 7 scores, and complete 57 percent of his passes for another 1,036 yards. Danny Coale started all 14 games as a redshirt freshman last season and caught a Tech freshman record 36 passes for 408 yards in 2008. VT must find a replacement for star running back Darren Evans who was injured
in fall camp and lost for the entire 2009 season.

Defensively, the Hokies return 7 starters from a unit which ranked 7th nationally in total defense led by 2nd team All-ACC DE Jason Worilds, who had 8 QB sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss, DT John Graves, who blocked three kicks, CB Stephan Virgil, who had 6 interceptions and 4 pass breakups. Tech’s leading returning tackler wasn’t a starter last year, but few had their hands in more plays than did OLB Cody Grimm, an all-star candidate, who made 71 tackles including 7.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions while also forcing 2 fumbles.

College Football Picks: Until the ACC shows it can play on the same level with the SEC, which they haven't, we will recommend to bet the SEC team. Alabama is a solid pick for Saturday. Alabama's defense is as good as it gets in college football. Remember last years hyped game with Clemson where the Tide spanked the Tigers? You can call tonights game as Tide vs. Clemson II. The only difference is the Hokies wear a different color uniform. Take 'Bama -7 (Bodog.com).