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NC State Q&A with Red White Podcast

This week we are joined by Red White Podcast, an NC State blog and podcast. You can follow Red White Podcast on Twitter at @RedWhitePodcast.

Tell us about yourself and your blog.

Our blog functions more as a home for the podcast but we’re expanding coverage this year to have more written content starting with hoops season. Folks can get on the email list and find all our content at RedWhiteNetwork.com.

What are your thoughts on NC State so far this season?

Man what a roller coaster. I’m not sure there is any other way to describe it and while there are still 3 winnable games to play, I think NC State fans feel like its is another missed opportunity. Everything set up for NC State to make it to Charlotte but the offense came out of the gate miserably slow and unable to support the really disruptive defense. That cost us the Duke and Louisville games which were both winnable and advanced metrics showed NC State should have won both of those games but didn’t. They’ve sort of found a flow lately mixing in packages and leaning on Kevin Concepcion to do pretty much everything but it isn’t exactly an offense that NC State fans feel comfortable relying on.

Given the roller coaster offensively, being 6-3 at the moment with wins over Clemson and Miami feels like a pretty big accomplishment all things being considered.

What’s your favorite memory from the NC State-Virginia Tech series?

Considering we’ve only beaten VT twice in the ACC, there’s not a ton of fond memories from the NC State side in this series. Take 2020 for example. VT was decimated with transfers and no hope on the roster and comes out like they were playing in the Orange Bowl beat the brakes off of the Wolfpack 45-24.

Or the 2010 game where VT and Tyrod Taylor couldn’t do anything in the first half, scored late in the 2nd to make it 17-7 and then David Wilson takes the opening kick 92y for a TD and the game turns into a track meet which VT ended up winning.

Or what about the 24pt basketball game, that was vs VT. Fun times.

I guess I could go back to the 17-16 rock fight from last year but I’m gonna go with the 1908 game that NC State won 6-5. Fond memories of that thriller.

What do you think of the ACC’s new scheduling format?

Meh. It’s fine, we dont have to play peak-Clemson every year anymore (but does anyone? heyooo). Hard to really criticize the schedule without questioning the decision to add Cal, Standford and SMU at the same time and that treadmill horse has been beat to death.

I do like that we get to play the NC Schools on rotation. Silly that NC State and Duke have only played once in 10 years prior to this matchup but really that’s ACC leadership in a nutshell.

How do you view the current state of the Virginia Tech football program?

VT is very analogous to NC State. There are so many parallels between the schools, fans, and program that I hold VT in high-regard. Just like NC State, the fans show up and support their team no matter how big of a dumpster fire the program is. Albeit VT doesn’t have as many dumpster fire years as NC State does but the last 10 haven’t been great but they still pack Lane Stadium.

I did think Fuente would be a decent hire and just like Tom O’Brien did at NC State he left the roster devoid of talent. The Hokies will be able to dig out of it but it is a process to rebuild that brand now. Brent Pry has shown promise and I thought VT was trending the right direction before they laid an egg against Louisville. I really don’t think they are as bad as their record and just going through some growing pains as they retool the roster.

What is your outlook for the future of the ACC?

Dead. ACC is spinning its wheels in the mud and there is no sign of recovering. I have no faith in the ACC leadership as it stands now to pull the league through the changing landscape of college football. That is not just a shot at the commissioner, its a shot at all the ACC Presidents too. They are the ones who could be demanding change but instead they go out and add two more academic schools who stink at football and yet another small private school.

It is so disheartening to see the league erode as it is now and the leadership to seemingly do nothing about it b/c they are happy they think the grant of rights will keep the league together. The reality is, a crafty lawyer or two will find a way for Clemson or FSU to get out and the whole thing will be come crashing down.

What conference do you see NC State belonging to in the next 5-10 years?

Eh, I suspect NC State leadership will take whatever path is easiest and that means staying put in the ACC, as sad as that is.

What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?

No one knows what you’re gonna get from NC State other than a stout and disruptive defense and schizophrenia on offense.

The offense will lean on and revolve around Kevin Concepcion and he’s elite but with the QB news of the week (MJ redshirting and Armstrong starting), I don’t know what to expect from the offense. If Brennan doesn’t try to do too much, and they keep leaning on the playmakers, we’ll be ok but his propensity to turn the ball over is what worries me.

Defensively, just watch #11. You won’t see many like him. He plays the game 110mph at all times and is one of the best defensively players to come through NC State and the ACC. He is must see TV. The defensive front is stout and has shown the ability to take away the run game for almost every team not name Notre Dame (although i still think we win that game if it doesnt get rain delayed). The corners are strong and can be relied upon but the injury-riddle safety position can be a liability. Teams like Miami were able to find success with the screen game and exploiting NC State’s aggressiveness is how you beat them.

If we don’t turn the ball over on offense we have a chance. NC State will make VT do whatever it is they don’t do well in order to beat them. That’s almost a certainty with Tony Gibson’s defense.

What’s your prediction for the game?

Neither team knows how to advance the ball passed the 50-yard line and both teams end up starring at each other for 60 minutes. The game goes to 11 overtimes before it is mercifully ended by an NC State safety. Pack wins 2-0.

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Iowa Women’s Basketball Q&A with Holly&Go

This week we are joined by Iowa podcaster Holly&Go from the Hot Mess Happy Hour podcast. You can follow Holly on Twitter @hawkchick11.

Tell us about yourself and your podcast. 

A little about me, I was born and raised in Iowa and I have been a Hawkeye fan since birth, and that fandom has been passed down to my son who will be attending UI next fall. I’m a season ticket holder for Iowa football (yes, the last two seasons have been painful) and I try to make it to men’s and women’s basketball games, volleyball, and wrestling since I live close to Iowa City. I’m really excited that Iowa has added women’s wrestling, so I plan on attending a dual to watch them too!

I have a podcast with my friend Amy called Hot Mess Happy Hour with the Wing Chicks. You can listen to us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Our friend Jess is the third Wing Chick, she is taking a break at the moment. We all met at a burlesque dance studio in our area several years ago, and hilarity/ridiculousness has been happening ever since. We were told for a few years that we should have a podcast so we took the plunge a year ago. We talk about a lot of topics, usually funny, but we talk about serious topics too. One of our favorites is what it is like being a woman who loves sports and all of the crap that goes along with it. There’s a reason it’s called Hot Mess Happy Hour so be prepared!

We all know Caitlin Clark but who else should Virginia Tech be keeping an eye out for tonight? 

Well, I would hope everyone knows about Caitlin Clark but another name everyone should learn is Hannah Stuelke. She is a sophomore, averaged 6.5 points and almost 4 rebounds in 13 minutes last year and she was the 2022-23 Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year. Hannah is going to have an even bigger role this year for the Hawkeyes after some departures and I am really excited to see what she can do. She’s already shown improvement in the exhibition games and the first game this season. 

Tell us a little bit about the history of Iowa women’s basketball for those of us who aren’t familiar prior to the Caitlin Clark era. 

Iowa women’s basketball has been pretty solid since the 1990’s when we had C. Vivian Stringer as our coach. Coach Stringer was such an influential part of Iowa women’s basketball, I remember watching her when I was a kid and thinking she was just the coolest person ever. There has only been a handful of seasons since her time at Iowa where the team did not make the NCAA tournament. After Coach Stringer left, we had Angie Lee, who I understand was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech for a few years after she left Iowa. Coach Lisa Bluder is the fifth coach in program history and has been with the Hawkeyes since 2000. I think we’re at 15+ tournament appearances in her time at Iowa. Last year was the first time the team made it to the Final Four since 1993, and it was the first time the team made it to the championship game, so it has been a pretty exciting time for Iowa women’s basketball. 

What do you think about Virginia Tech’s women’s basketball program?

I am not super familiar with the Virginia Tech women’s basketball program but I did get to watch their Final Four game against LSU last year. I was pulling for them, I thought they would have been a great match up for Iowa. I’m excited to see how the teams matchup in this game.

What do you think games like the Ally Tip-Off do to grow the women’s game? 

I think it’s awesome that there are more opportunities like this for women’s basketball. Last month, Iowa did an exhibition game in Kinnick Stadium that had over 56,000 people attending, and thousands more watching on tv. I know the NCAA tournament had a massive increase in viewers last year, which just proves that people will watch if they are given access. Anything that can be done to grow the sport is amazing, and events like the Ally Tip-Off do just that. 

What’s your prediction for the game?

Iowa wins 79-68.

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Boston College vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

That game against Louisville was a BEATDOWN. The Hokies were outclassed on offense, defense and special teams. It’s disappointing to have a no-show in such a big game but the goal for this season was always to make a bowl game. And that’s what the Hokies should focus on in these next three games.

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 66th
Offense: 88th
Defense: 43rd
Special Teams: 17th

Boston College

Overall: 78th
Offense: 78th
Defense: 64th
Special Teams: 93rd


The key to stopping Boston College is to stop their run game. This year they are nearly a lock to rush for 200 yards every time out. They have a two-man offense with Thomas Castellanos and Kye Robichaux. The Hokies need to sellout to stop the run in this game. They should consider mixing in run blitzes to get the BC offense off-schedule. This is a game where if you get beat through the air, so be it. But don’t let them beat you on the ground.

The formula for Virginia Tech on offense is the same as Boston College. Tech needs to run the ball. This needs to be the Drones-Tuten show. Keep running read option and make the BC defense stop it. The goal needs to be to show a lot of motion and misdirection to keep the defense from keying in on one rusher. It may be a good idea to get Jaylin Lane involved in a couple of jet sweeps or reverses too.

What worries me most about this game is BC’s ability to get yards on the ground, no matter who they are playing. Virginia Tech has to show up ready to fill gaps in the run game and shut that down. If Tech plays like they have in the rest of their road games this season, it’s going to be a long day. They need to show that their run stopping abilities can travel on the road with them. A noon start at BC also has snoozer written all over it. The Hokies need to BYOE (bring your own energy) and be ready to play from the opening whistle. I’m going to go with Tech in this game. They can play better than they did against Louisville and it sounds like BC’s top two rushers might be a little banged up going into this game.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 27, Boston College 24

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Louisville vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

This is the best that Virginia Tech football has looked in a couple of years. The offense, defense and special teams all appear to be getting the job done right now. The last three wins have not come against great competition but it has been an opportunity for the Hokies to build some confidence. They looked like a very confident team on Thursday against Syracuse.

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 59th
Offense: 80th
Defense: 37th
Special Teams: 22nd

Louisville

Overall: 24th
Offense: 32nd
Defense: 19th
Special Teams: 41st


Louisville’s offense is predicated on the run. They lean on star RB Jawhar Jordan to do the heavy lifting. The one game where he went out early is the only game they have lost this season. Virginia Tech should focus on bottling up Jordan and make QB Jack Plummer beat them with his arm. This should be a good test for the Virginia Tech defense that has had trouble stopping the run against talented running backs this season.

Louisville is top-10 in the nation at stopping the run. If the Hokies hope to move the ball against this defense, it will have to be through the air. This is a game where Tech will need Jaylin Lane and Da’Quan Felton to show up huge in the passing game. Louisville is not going to let Tech’s running game have a day like they did against Syracuse.

Louisville is an extremely well-coached team. This team has done an exceptional job of handling their business this year. They have talent, they are well-coached and have a good gameplan each week. On paper, Louisville should be the clear #2 team in the ACC right now behind Florida State. Virginia Tech has a chance in this game. They need to come in an play their best game of the season. They need a clean game defensively where they do not give up big runs to Jawhar Jordan. And they need to be turnover-free on offense. Based on how Tech has been playing recently, I think they can keep this a competitive game but Louisville is clearly one step ahead of where the Hokies are right now.

Prediction: Louisville 33, Virginia Tech 23

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Syracuse vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

For the first time in the Brent Pry era, Virginia Tech appears to be playing good football. The Hokies thoroughly handled Wake Forest before going into their bye week. The big concern now is how will the Hokies show up post-bye week. Will they look rusty? Or will they be able to maintain the momentum they had prior to the week off?

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 66th
Offense: 86th
Defense: 39th
Special Teams: 36th

Syracuse

Overall: 48th
Offense: 67th
Defense: 40th
Special Teams: 65th


Syracuse is pretty solid all around on offense. Jason Beck, former UVA QB coach under Bronco Mendenhall, remains at Syracuse and he has done a good job with QB Garrett Shrader. They like to balance the run with the pass and lean on Shrader and RB LeQuint Allen to get yards on the ground. Allen is a capable runner but thus far this season has not been a home run threat. The longest run that Syracuse has this season is 39 yards. The Hokies need to focus on bottling up those two in the run game and make Garrett Shrader beat them with his arm.

Syracuse’s big weakness on defense is defending the pass. They rank 111th in the country in passing yard allowed. This week, Kyron Drones needs to show that he is more than just a runner. After throwing for over 300 yards against Wake Forest, Drones needs to show he can do it again. While the Syracuse run defense isn’t great, the pass game is where the Hokies will want to attack them. Once again, the Hokies need to set up the pass game with an effective run game behind Drones and Tuten.

This matchup does not scare me, particularly at home. I’m more worried about the Hokies getting off to a slow start after the bye week. This is the type of game where a slow start could doom Tech. The formula for this game needs to be for the defense to feed off a great atmosphere to get off to a good start until the offense can get into a rhythm. This would be a good week to get the pass catching weapons involved like Jaylin Lane, Dae’Quan Felton and Stephen Gosnell. This looks like a close game but I like the Hokies at home on Thursday night.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Syracuse 24

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Syracuse Q&A with Nunes Magician

This week we are joined by Syracuse blog Nunes Magician. You can follow them on Twitter at @NunesMagician.

Tell us about yourself and your blog.

We’ve been around Syracuse sports for a long time and we try to balance the coverage between serious analysis and #jokesandgarbage.  

What are your thoughts on Syracuse so far this year?

The 4-3 record is what most expected the Orange would be right now, but the last three games have sapped a lot of optimism from the fanbase. Without Oronde Gadsden on the field. Syracuse’s offense has struggled to move the ball through the air against ACC opponents. The Orange defense has played well, despite the final scores the last two weeks. 

What’s your favorite memory from the Syracuse-Virginia Tech series? 

These teams have played some wild games but nothing tops the Donovan McNabb game-winning pass to Steven Brominski back in 1998. You don’t see a lot of football plays decided on the final play and that’s one of the defining moments of McNabb’s Syracuse career. 

What do you think of the ACC’s new scheduling format?

It looked like a good step towards addressing the issue of schools not facing one another- Syracuse hasn’t hosted Miami since joining the league. However, expansion looks like it’ll change again and hopefully this time Syracuse won’t keep Florida State as an annual rival. 


How do you view the current state of the Virginia Tech football program? 

It’s interesting to be honest. Before the season I thought this would be a tough challenge for Syracuse. After the teams both played Purdue, it seemed like it would be a game Syracuse could win comfortably. After the last two weeks I think Virginia Tech is finding an identity, which is something the Orange have struggled to maintain since Dino Babers took over. 

What is your outlook for the future of the ACC?

Short-term there shouldn’t be a major concern about the ACC collapsing. Expansion should provide a bit of security, but it all feels like everyone is waiting for the SEC and Big Ten to grow again.  

What conference do you see Syracuse belonging to in the next 5-10 years?

I think Syracuse will be in the ACC, but it’ll look different in 10 years. Wouldn’t surprise us to see UConn and maybe WVU back with Syracuse, BC, Duke, Pitt, Wake and maybe Virginia Tech? The long-term viability of the league seems to hinge more on what UNC and UVA decide to do, than what Clemson and FSU do. 

What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?

The team that gets out to an early lead will dictate the game. Syracuse needs a fast start to take the crowd out and also force the Hokies to play catch up. I do think the bye helps the Orange after this rough stretch, but it should be a game that is in the balance until the final five minutes. This sets up as a huge game for both programs as they jockey for bowl eligibility and positioning.  

What’s your prediction for the game?

I’ll admit that as a homer I think Syracuse bounces back and wins 27-23. The week off helps Garrett Shrader get out and run a bit more and that dimension opens up some offense for the Orange. 

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Wake Forest vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

As soon as the Hokies fix one problem, another one pops up. This time it’s inability to stop the run. Luckily, the Hokies’ offense seems to have found its rhythm. They were able to keep up with Florida State for three quarters. The run defense, however, is a different story. Tech continues to get gashed on the ground. This is an area the coaches will have to get fixed in the second half of the season.

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 76th
Offense: 96th
Defense: 51st
Special Teams: 44th

Wake Forest

Overall: 51st
Offense: 55th
Defense: 53rd
Special Teams: 73rd


This is a standard Wake Forest offense under Dave Clawson. Good but not great. They are balanced and move the ball consistently. Their offense has stalled out a bit in the last two games against Georgia Tech and Clemson. Tech’s big concern needs to be stopping RB Demond Claiborne. Like all the running backs the Hokies have seen this year, he has the potential to break a big run. QB Mitch Griffis has been okay. He connects on a high percentage of his passes but he is a checkdown king. He likes to keep his throws within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. This might be a good week for the Hokies DBs to be a little more aggressive against short throws and checkdowns.

The Wake Forest defense has been pretty good. They are top 40 in the nation in total defense. The good news for the Hokies is they tend to give up more yards on the ground than through the air. This would be a good game for Kyron Drones, Bhayshul Tuten and Malachi Thomas to get going on the ground. The same playbook that has worked against Pitt and three quarters against FSU needs to be the go-to in this game.

This is a pretty good matchup for the Hokies. My biggest concern is that Wake is an extremely well-coached team and they don’t beat themselves. Tech has the horses on offense to win but they need to rely on the defense to not give up big running plays. On a neutral site, Wake would win by 3. But I’m going to give the nod to the Hokies at home here and pick Tech by 3.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 23, Wake Forest 20

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2023 Virginia Tech Midseason Review

Let’s take a look back at my preseason predictions for the first half of the season:

As you can see, I had Tech at 2-4 at this point in the season but I had Tech beating Purdue and losing to Pitt. Either way, so far the Hokies have met expectations. They need to finish the season strong to a) make a bowl or b) improve upon last year’s 3-win record.

The second half slate seems very manageable. Louisville is a tough road game. Syracuse may be a bit better than expected. But other than that, the rest of the games are winnable. The Hokies have to avoid shooting themselves in the foot — something they’ve been very good at in the first half of the season.

What will it take to get there? First, stop the run. The Hokies do not have a natural middle linebacker on the roster but they need to find something that works. Even if it means playing somebody out of position. Right now, it’s too easy to find running room against this defense. The Hokies are going to have to go trial-and-error until they find someone who can play that position.

Second, the Hokies need to embrace being a run-first team. That is their identity. The Hokies should be running 2/3rds of the time on offense. Tuten is a game-breaker. Thomas can get tough yards after contact. And Drones is an effective runner. An offense built around those three with Lane and Felton as deep threats can be effective. The Hokies offense needs to lean into this philosophy on offense.

Offensive MVP: Bhayshul Tuten

Defensive MVP: Antwaun Powell-Ryland / Pheldarius Payne

Special Teams MVP: Tucker Holloway / Bhayshul Tuten

I’m going to go ahead and stick with my second half preseason predictions. Wake and Syracuse are winnable at home. Louisville will be tough on the road. We never seem to play well up at Boston College. NC State is tough with a new QB but Tech can win that one at home and UVA is the worst team in the league this season. The Hokies finish the schedule either 3-3 or 4-2. That means either a bowl game or a 5-win season which is a 2-game improvement over last year. Get moving in the right direction, recruit and try again next year.

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Wake Forest Q&A with The Deac Machine

This week we are joined by The Deac Machine. You can follow him on Twitter at @TheDeacMachine.

Tell us about yourself and your account.

I’m a Deacon grad that lives within 30 minutes of Winston-Salem. I have season tickets to football and basketball and grew up as a fan and I graduated in the late 00’s. I created THE DEAC MACHINE in order to speak freely publicly about all things Wake Forest Athletics.

What are your thoughts on Wake Forest so far this year?

We knew this was going to be a transition year with the breaking in of a new QB in Mitch Griffis, who was simply handed the job by our coaching staff, but no one expected him / the offense to be this bad. We struggled against Elon, were lucky Vanderbilt threw up on itself and couldn’t stop the run, should have lost to ODU, handed GT 5 turnovers (+ a W), and wasted a great defensive performance vs Clemson yesterday in Death Valley. With an even average P5 Qb we’d be 5-0 right now.

Offense: While we have a good running game (Demond Claibrone is a special running back), our inability to throw the football (due to OL protection issues and no QB) puts us at a serious disadvantage. For whatever reason, our staff refuses to try out our 2nd string QB. There were instances yesterday where our staff was running on 3rd and medium at midfield because they don’t trust our QB. That’s a problem. We have great wide receivers (Jahmal Banks, Taylor Morin, Ke’shawn Williams, Wesley Grimes) but can’t get them the ball. That’s another problem. 

Our defense is in its 2nd year led by Brad Lambert who is in his 2nd stint at Wake Forest (he was the DC with Jim Grobe the first time before being named the head coach at Charlotte). They are an aggressive bunch led by DE Jasheen Davis, LB Jacob Roberts, and S Malik Mustpaha. The defense has been a problem the last few years but is the strength of the team this year. This unit deserved a W yesterday in Clemson. 

What do you think about Virginia Tech being assigned as a permanent ACC rival in the new schedule format? 

Honestly, it’s kind of a joke. That’s meant as no disrespect to Virginia Tech. Wake has 3 main rivals – UNC, NC State, and Duke. The ACC gave us Duke, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech. The conference ended one of the oldest rivalries in college football when they put Wake and UNC in separate divisions during the first round of expansion. They’re about to do the same with our NC State rivalry – one that’s been played for over 100 years. Virginia Tech is 2 hours away from Winston-Salem, so it was just a random assignment by the ACC. The conference never does Wake any favors. 


How do you view the current state of the Virginia Tech football program? 

Virginia Tech has a great fan base and a great program. The ACC banked on them being a national contender – and the Hokies were for the first decade in the conference before the recent downturn. In a lot of ways, I see what has happened to Virginia Tech football and compare it to what happened with Wake basketball. A program that was very strong in the 90s and 00s but one that has since lost its way. I don’t know a lot about Brent Pry and was surprised with that hire. Probably too early to make any judgement on him. 

What is your outlook for the future of the ACC?

The GOR keeps the ACC intact for a while. If a school wants to leave, get ready to pay millions upon millions. The SEC and Big 10 are a Power 2, if you can’t get in either of them, I don’t know why a school would try to leave. The ACC is 3rd with the Big 12 4th and the latter’s TV deal runs up soon. The ACC will continue to survive in some shape, form, or fashion despite potential member schools leaving. 

What conference do you see Wake Forest belonging to in the next 5-10 years?

As long as there’s an ACC, Wake Forest will be a part of it. It may look / feel a little different though. Despite all of Wake’s winning across all sports, I don’t see Wake being a candidate for the SEC or Big 10.  

What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?

In preseason, I wrote – in pencil – this game as a W. Given our QB play, I don’t expect that now. Lane Stadium is awesome and the fans are fantastic. I think we’ll probably see a similar game to our Clemson game yesterday. Low-scoring, sloppy, ugly football. Turnovers and special teams will be important. If Wake can get a run game going and take the homecoming crowd out of it, maybe we’ve got a shot. 

What’s your prediction for the game?

A happy Homecoming for the Hokies, VT wins 20-16.

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Florida State vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

It was great to see Virginia Tech get back to playing what resembled Virginia Tech football. What has been holding the team back this season is the inability to run and stop the run. On Saturday, they were able to do both and get a big win at home. To push for a bowl game this season, they will need to replicate that success in the coming weeks. They did it against a good Pitt defense but upcoming weeks may provide a tougher challenge.

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 72nd
Offense: 92nd
Defense: 42nd
Special Teams: 46th

Florida State

Overall: 18th
Offense: 15th
Defense: 25th
Special Teams: 15th


Florida State has a good but not great offense. The key to their offense is Jordan Travis and the passing game. This is actually a decent matchup for VT who has been good against the pass this season. Look for Florida State to try to take advantage of Virginia Tech’s leaky run game. If Tech can hold their own against FSU’s run game, it is going to be much tougher for the ‘Noles to move the ball in this game. Tech needs to key-in on Keon Coleman in the pass game and Trey Benson in the run game.

Florida State is not as good as you would expect defensively. Statistically, Virginia Tech has a better defense. FSU has played stronger competition to this point but if I were a Florida State fan, I’d worry about their ability to stop the pass. While Virginia Tech does not have a strong passing attack, Kyron Drones has shown enough now to be dangerous. Especially if Jaylin Lane is back to 100% healthy and Quan Felton can be a consistent deep threat. The challenge that Tech will have will be keeping the ground game going long enough to keep FSU honest on defense.

I like this game on paper a lot more than I thought I would. Florida State’s strengths actually matchup pretty well against Virginia Tech’s. It’s not as horrible a matchup as I thought it would be. The Hokies have the schedule helping them a bit in this one too. While Florida State is coming off a bye and should be healthy, it’s easy to let your guard down when it’s your first home game in a month. Not to mention, I don’t like byes this early in the season. Rust becomes a factor for teams who rely on the passing game. I could be wrong but this seems like it could be a competitive game. Florida State definitely has more talent but Tech has enough going for them right now to give them a game. FSU’s talent advantage will eventually wear down the Hokies but this game looks more like the ‘Noles game with BC where it came down to the 4th quarter.

Prediction: Florida State 35, Virginia Tech 20