Will 2015 be the Return of a 10-Win Season for the Virginia Tech Hokies?

The Virginia Tech Hokies won 10-or-more football games a season from 2004 through 2011. Although Tech never filled its empty trophy case over that stretch, that streak, at the time the longest active nationally, yielded satisfying seasons, conference championships and a lot of wins. After the last three years of 7-6, 8-5 and 7-6, I would welcome ten wins, a top-25 finish and upper-tier bowl appearance with open arms.

ESPN ACC reporter Andrea Adelson, believes the Hokies will begin a new 10-win streak in 2015.

Virginia Tech will win at least 10 games. This statement wouldn't be so bold in 2008, but believing in the Hokies makes me part of a very small minority after three straight subpar seasons. The offense looked vastly improved in the spring; the defense should be terrific up front; overall, 16 starters return. Plus, the schedule is among the more manageable in the ACC. Opening with Ohio State is difficult, yes, but the Hokies beat the Buckeyes a year ago and now get them at home. Virginia Tech should also be favored in its crossover games against NC State and Boston College, giving the Hokies a clear edge over Georgia Tech and Miami. The Jackets and Canes each play Clemson and Florida State from the Atlantic. Virginia Tech has to prove it's a far more disciplined team to make this prediction come true. But based on reports from the spring, Virginia Tech should be in line to be a player again in the ACC.

Adelson has been bullish on Tech since the Hokies concluded spring practice. She also believes Tech's offense answered the most questions among ACC teams during spring ball.

While it is true the Hokies went through the spring without several injured defensive starters, there are never major concerns with a Bud Foster-coached unit. What has dragged the Hokies down the past three years has been an anemic offense that has been difficult to watch. So all eyes were on the offense this spring to see whether this would finally be the year Virginia Tech breaks out of the doldrums and resembles a pretty good offensive group. The answers were overwhelmingly positive. Though Michael Brewer missed a few practices with a back injury, he had much more command of the offense. J.C. Coleman, Trey Edmunds and Travon McMillian ran behind a vastly improved -- and seemingly solidified -- offensive line. There is depth at tight end. In the spring game, Virginia Tech flourished in the red zone, another sign of encouragement. If this group continues making improvement, Virginia Tech could finally contend for the Coastal again.

Back to the original question, will Tech win ten-or-more games in 2015? I'm more skeptical than Andrea and her specific reasoning doesn't assure me too much. (Also, it's unclear if she's considering the just regular season or post-season too.)

By virtue of playing under the lights in Lane, Tech may very well indeed be Vegas' favorite against NC State. However, the Wolfpack returns 14 starters of its own (9 on offense), and unlike Tech's 16, that number doesn't include punter or kicker. Jacoby Brissett (23 TDs, 5 INTs) is among the ACC's top returning quarterbacks, the Wolfpack went 4-1 in November and December last season and if State wide receiver Bo Hines didn't transfer to Yale, I'd drop my early money on the Wolfpack.

Tech's better on paper than Boston College, but that's been the case the last two seasons and the Eagles man-balled their way to wins.

I normally categorize games as likely win, likely loss and tossup. Caveat: It's a crapshoot to analyze a football schedule before a single snap. In my estimation, the only likely loss on the schedule is Ohio State. Furman, at Purdue and at East Carolina are all likely wins. Tech's entire ACC schedule is a tossup.

Parity has been the trend in the Coastal Division. Georgia Tech lays the most compelling early claim for why its separated itself from the pack. Paul Johnson's teams have been great when he's had a legit quarterback, and Justin Thomas is a baller. As good as the Bees were last season, they caught plenty of breaks along the way. Finally, even though Johnson has 8 starters back on defense, almost all the skill players around Thomas will be green.

You might be wondering why I don't group Boston College (9 returning starters, T-121st nationally) and Virginia (10, T-114th) as likely wins. The Eagles have been gutted, but Steve Addazio's squad will most likely be an efficient running machine come the end of October. As for Virginia, a rivalry game is never a sure thing, and The Commonwealth Cup has been too close for comfort these last few seasons.

With all of that said, the pieces are in place for Tech to make the double-digit leap. It's been beaten over our heads that every player who scored a point returns in 2015 (although Williams' and McKenzie's status is uncertain). Bucky Hodges is an offensive threat defenses won't be able to account for with just one player. I can't remember the last time Virginia Tech had one of those. For the first time in ages, the No. 1 offense looked competent in Tech's spring game. Yes, they played with a short field for most of the scrimmage against a watered down No. 1 defense, but the offense made plays. The feeling in my bones after the Maroon–Orange Game was, we got something on offense here. Although, an injury at offensive tackle could derail things fast.

Dadi Nicolas and Ken Ekanem are among the elite pass rushing d-end duos nationally. And hey, Tech might have found a reliable third defensive end (Seth Dooley) this spring. The Hokies have more playmakers at defensive tackle than UVa had fans at its spring game. However, there's plenty of inexperience among Tech's defensive back end, especially in the secondary, but does anyone not trust Torrian Gray to have his defensive backs right come September.

I could go on and on about where this team stands in May. For every certainty there's a question, but it's undeniable this is most talented team the Hokies have fielded since 2011. Although, ripe with potential, this team hasn't proven itself a juggernaut. Injuries and intangibles (leadership, work ethic over the summer, camaraderie, etc...) could be what makes or breaks the Hokies' 2015 campaign. I can't go bold and predict ten-plus wins, nor can I knock a half-full glass off the table and forecast a catastrophe. It's too easy to see why this team might be great, or how the wheels may fall off.

What's your state of mind? Do you see Tech returning to form and winning ten-or-more games this season? Does anyone feel good about a prognostication one way or the other?