You can’t judge a team based on an early season game. In 2016, the Hokies turned the ball over five times and lost to Tennessee at the Battle at Bristol. That team went on to win the Coastal division and took Clemson to the last possession in the ACC Championship Game. Last season, the Hokies beat Florida State on the road 24-3 then went on to have their first losing season in 26 years. In short, don’t judge a season based on an early season game. Some teams get better and some teams don’t end up looking as good as they first looked. You have to let the season play out.
The Hokies have two more games to tune up before they play their next conference game against Duke. They need to use these games as an opportunity to get healthy and fix the issues we saw against Boston College. Old Dominion is the type of team the Hokies need to be able to get a comfortable victory against. The Hokies need to prove that last year’s massive upset was no more than a fluke.
The Old Dominion offense features some familiar faces. Former Virginia Tech OC Bryan Stinespring is ODU’s new tight ends coach. And former VT players Eric Kumah and Chris Cunningham are now starters for Old Dominion. Not to mention they will also be team captains for this game. If that’s not sending a message to the Hokies, I’m not sure what is.
VT transfers Chris Cunningham and Eric Kumah will be captains for this weeks game at Va Tech, #odu coach Bobby Wilder says
— Ed Miller (@edmillervp) September 2, 2019
Last year’s hero, Blake LaRussa, left football to pursue seminary school this past offseason. Jeremy Cox, the running back who ran for 130 yards against the Hokies last year is also gone. Replacing them is JUCO QB Stone Smartt and former VT recruiting target RB LaLa Davis. The player to watch on the ODU offense is former Hokie Eric Kumah. He led ODU in receiving yards last week against Norfolk State.
The ODU defense struggled against the run last year. This is a game where the Hokies run game should look to get going. Look for Keshawn King to have a big game. This defense brings back five starters from last year’s squad. This defense finished dead last in total defense in Conference USA in 2018. The Hokies need to show off some of their offensive talent and put up a lot of points. If Norfolk State can put 21 points against ODU, Virginia Tech should be able to put up a lot more.
Last year, the game at Old Dominion felt like a lot of problems revealing themselves at the same time. Up until that point, the Hokies were feeling good. That game revealed a lot of problems that the Hokies spent the rest of the year trying to work out. This time the motivation will be there to take care of business against the Monarchs. This is a game the Hokies should put away early.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 42, Old Dominion 14
treadmillhorse 