Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

Several Virginia Tech football players navigate snow-covered sidewalks outside the Rector Field House on the Tech campus in Blacksburg on Monday.

BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech concluded its pre-Christmas bowl preparations Monday, allowing the players to flee for home and enjoy a short holiday break with family and friends.

The Hokies will reconvene on Christmas night in Atlanta, where they will begin game-week workouts Saturday for their Dec. 31 meeting against Tennessee in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

It will mark Tech's third trip of the season to Atlanta. The Hokies are 0-2 on their first two visits to Georgia's capital city, losing 34-24 to Alabama on Sept. 5, and 28-23 to Georgia Tech on Oct. 17.

"It hasn't been a great spot for us to go play, but we have a chance to turn it around on the 31st, and that's what we look forward to doing," said Tech guard Sergio Render, who hails from nearby Newnan, Ga.

The 12th-ranked Hokies (9-3) are an early 4 ¹₂-point favorite over the unranked Volunteers (7-5).

"Hopefully, we can turn the tables as far as the winning percentage in Atlanta," Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. "So, yes, this is a big game for us and this program. Of course, we want to beat an SEC team, but I think it's even better for us to go out there and get our 10th win and end the season on a positive note."

Tech has lost four consecutive games to SEC schools. Since beating LSU 26-8 in Blacksburg in 2002, the Hokies have lost to Auburn (2003 Sugar Bowl), Georgia (2006 CFA Bowl), LSU (2007) and Alabama in this season's opener.

"Yeah, it's motivation for us," Render said. "We haven't beaten an SEC school since I've been here, and they say that's the most dominant conference in football. I feel like if we practice hard and we focus on the game, I think we can beat them guys."

No introduction needed

Taylor said he knows Vols star cornerback Eric Berry, who last week became only the second Tennessee player ever to earn unanimous All-America honors twice in his career. Berry, a unanimous All-American last season as a sophomore, also is this year's winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented to the nation's best defensive back. Berry ranks second on the Vols' defense and second among SEC defensive backs with 83 tackles, including six for loss, and two interceptions.

Berry, a native of nearby Fairburn, Ga., will likely be playing his final college game against the Hokies.

"The last time I talked to Eric Berry was when we were at the U.S. All-American Bowl, which was in Texas our senior year [of high school]," Taylor said. "He's a great player, I'm looking forward to playing against him. You can watch him and see how good he is. I know he's going to bring his A-game and I'm going to bring mine, too."

Call off reunion

Taylor also had anticipated seeing fellow Hampton, Va., native and close friend Brent Vinson in Atlanta. That won't happen now since the Vols' junior cornerback was dismissed from the team last Thursday by head coach Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin didn't specify why Vinson was dismissed, but the ex-Phoebus High standout has faced academic and discipline issues since his arrival at UT in 2007. He only started one game this season and did not get a start in 2008. He has one interception and 11 tackles in nine games this season.

Trainer's table

The Hokies appear to be in solid shape health-wise for the bowl game. Wide receiver Danny Coale (left hamstring), offensive tackle Ed Wang (Achilles) and cornerback Stephan Virgil, who had minor surgery on his left knee three weeks ago, all missed some time in recent bowl workouts but all should be good to go for the game.

Junior linebacker Zach Luckett, who tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in Tech's Nov. 28 regular-season finale against Virginia, is scheduled to undergo surgery during the Christmas break and won't be at the bowl game. Luckett sparkled on Tech's kickoff and punt coverage teams before going down.

Bassett's Andrew Miller, a freshman offensive lineman who is redshirting this season, recently underwent shoulder surgery.