At this point, I thought the Hokies would be 5-1. Instead they are 3-3. It’s a disappointment but their three losses have been in one-score games. Good teams win close games. Virginia Tech feels close to getting over the hump where they start winning those one-score games. The expect-to-lose mentality is still present in this program and that’s one of the toughest things to overcome when you are building a program.
Virginia Tech is good enough to win all of their remaining games. Will they? Probably not. But they’ve got a good chance in every remaining game including Clemson. The biggest thing they need to do is to play a full 60 minutes like they did against Miami and Stanford. If they can do that, they can play with anyone. It makes me wonder why it takes this coaching staff a full month before this team is ready to play 60 minutes. But that’s an issue for next year I guess.
Let’s gauge the remaining slate against preseason expectations.
| Final 6 Game Record | Regular Season Record | Vs preseason expectations |
| 2 wins or less | 5-7 or worse | This would be a catastrophe and fans would call for heads to roll including the head coach’s. |
| 3-3 | 6-6 | This would match last year’s regular season win total and would be a big disappointment considering the returning starters and transfer additions in the offseason. |
| 4-2 | 7-5 | Still a bit of a disappointment but a slight improvement over last season’s regular season record. |
| 5-1 | 8-4 | Probably where most realistic fans would have set their expectations in the preseason. A 5-1 finish would make most VT fans feel good going into the offseason. |
| 6-0 | 9-3 | Exceed preseason expectations. A win over Clemson and a 6-0 finish with a chance at an ACCCG appearance. |
Offensive MVP: Bhayshul Tuten
One of the national leaders in rushing yards and touchdowns. Hard to have a better first half than he has. Feed him the rock.
Defensive MVP: Antwaun Powell-Ryland
APR is ranked 4th in the nation with seven sacks on the season. Safe bet that he’ll get to double-digit sacks his year. It’s been a long time since someone did that in Blacksburg.
Special Teams MVP: John Love
He is 9-of-10 on his field goals this year and has connected twice from over 50 yards. Reminds me of the kickers that Tech had during the Beamer era.
If the Hokies continue to play the brand of football they’ve played in the last two weeks, the second half slate looks very manageable. The first two games are at home against teams that look beatable in Boston College and Georgia Tech. Next is the trip to Syracuse. That looks like a REALLY tough game to me. Syracuse is playing well and they have a very good QB. And Tech never wins up there unless they have Michael Vick at QB. Then it’s Clemson. I think it’s a winnable game but Tech needs to bring their A-game. Anything less and that game is a loss. Duke and Virginia both look better than expected but those are both games Tech should win. A 4-2 record seems likely but the Hokies shouldn’t overlook any of their remaining opponents. It feels like the Hokies are starting to hit their stride this season.
treadmillhorse 