Brent Pry is out to prove that the last nine games of last season were no fluke. It’s been more than a decade since Virginia Tech went into a season with this much preseason hype. Preseason hype can be a blessing or a curse. Once the season kicks off, it doesn’t matter how many preseason accolades your team got. It’s time to prove it on the field.
SP+ Rankings
Virginia Tech
Overall: 36th
Offense: 43rd
Defense: 35th
Special Teams: 14th
Vanderbilt
Overall: 89th
Offense: 68th
Defense: 104th
Special Teams: 72nd
Vanderbilt is not very SEC-like. They usually recruit below their SEC peers and they have only won 2 SEC games in the past 3 years. Head coach Clark Lea is trying to save his job this season so he is pulling out all the stops to try and show some progress. He brought Fuente-era savior Jerry Kill from New Mexico State as a consultant as well as his QB Diego Pavia. Pavia put up impressive numbers last season against less-than-stellar competition. Although, he did have a 3 touchdown game against Auburn last season. So he has shown he can get it done against good competition. The issue for Vanderbilt is they are switching from a pass-heavy offense to a run-heavy offense under new OC Tim Beck. That’s going to be a tough transition without major personnel changes on offense. Especially with their top wide receivers transferring out in the offseason. This offense may start the season looking like a square peg in a round hole. But keep an eye on Pavia. He’s a guy who can make plays with his arm and his legs.
Vanderbilt has some talent on the defensive side of the ball. They have a couple of safeties and linebackers who will cause the Hokies issues in the run game. Early in the season, Tech needs to keep things simple for Kyron Drones and run the ball. The Hokies were at their best last season in games when they established the run. The running game opened up the passing game downfield. The Hokies should follow the same philosophy from the UVA and Tulane games last season and pound the rock. This is a game plan that should wear down the Vanderbilt defense over the course of four quarters. Those linebackers and safeties will make it tough but the Hokies need to stick to the game plan.
Opening games are tough to predict. The Hokies have the talent advantage but opening week games are almost always weird. There can be special teams snafus, missed assignments and turnovers. So if you are expecting the Hokies in midseason form, you might be disappointed. Having said that, the Hokies should go on the road and get a solid dub. They have the horses to put this one away in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Vanderbilt 17
treadmillhorse 