The goal for this season was always to make a bowl game. The Hokies had to go 6-3 down the stretch to make one but they got here. This season is exactly what Tech fans were hoping for. Get back to respectability and build momentum going into 2024. After a three-win season last year, that’s all you could really hope for. Now the goal is to close the season with a bowl win to go into next year with a winning record and momentum.
SP+ Rankings (take these with a grain of salt since there are roster changes on both sides)
Virginia Tech
Overall: 50th
Offense: 64th
Defense: 46th
Special Teams: 10th
Tulane
Overall: 43rd
Offense: 58th
Defense: 36th
Special Teams: 52nd
First, let’s get out of the way who is NOT playing this game.
Tulane will be missing:
Head Coach Willie Fritz
Defensive Coordinator Shiel Wood
Defensive Backs Coach Josh Christian-Young
Wide Receivers Coach Derrick Sherman
Starting QB Michael Pratt
Starting OL Prince Pines
Starting WR Chris Brazzell II
Starting WR Jha’Quan Jackson
Starting DL Darius Hodges
Starting CB Jarius Monroe
Starting S D.J. Douglas
DB Kentrell Webb
ST Kiland Harrison
Virginia Tech will be missing:
Starting S Jalen Stroman
Starting S Nasir Peoples
Starting TE Dae’Quan Wright
The biggest loss for Tulane in this game is star QB Michael Pratt. This is the same quarterback who knocked off #10 USC in the Cotton Bowl last year. He had a great career and now is off to try and get a shot at the NFL level. That means that Tulane will be playing one of their two backups, either Kai Horton or Justin Ibieta or both. Neither has a ton of experience and they would both be relative unknowns going into this game. They player to watch while Tulane is on offense is RB Makhi Hughes. He has gone over 100 yards seven times this season. With Tulane having to go to a backup and their top WR being out, expect him to get a heavy load. The Hokies would be smart to focus on stopping the run and making Makhi Hughes a non-factor in this game.
Tulane has a stout rush defense this season. A big part of that was the contributions of Devean Deal and Keith Cooper. The game plan for this game needs to be the same as the Boston College and UVA games, run the ball with Bhayshul Tuten and Kyron Drones. An effective run game opens up the pass game for Dae’Quan Felton and Jaylin Lane. The Hokies should establish the run early to control clock and try to get up a score or two to force Tulane into passing situations.
This feels like teams going in different directions. Tulane is at the end of a great two-year run where they just lost their coach and starting QB. The Hokies are building momentum off a good 2nd half of the season and what looks like an even brighter 2024. Seems like the Hokies have the motivation / momentum edge in this game. While Tulane is not quite a 2021 Pinstripe Bowl situation, they are definitely lacking some of their big pieces going into this game. Not to mention a skeleton coaching staff. Unless this game turns into a turnover fest, looks like one that the Hokies should be able to win comfortably.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 35, Tulane 20
treadmillhorse 