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Florida State Q&A with Plant The Spear

This week we are joined by Florida State athletics podcast Plant The Spear. You can follow them on Twitter at @PlantTheSpear1. You can also check out their podcast here.

Tell us about yourself and your podcast.

My name is Jesse, and I have bled garnet and gold my entire life. I have so many great memories as an FSU fan. From meeting Bobby Bowden to watching FSU win a national championship in person. At the same time, I just love the game. I could watch two community colleges play on a Tuesday. 

It has always been a dream of mine to work in college football, but I don’t have a journalism degree, so I had to create my own path. I had talked about starting an FSU podcast for years but was too nervous. My wife finally talked me into it, probably because she was tired of hearing me talk about football and Plant The Spear was born. 

I try to provide a unique perspective in a way everyone can enjoy. I have been known to turn into a stat-head sometimes but we also have fun with it. I’m very active on social media because engaging with people is what it is all about. I also have a website, make graphics, and put out a preseason digital magazine. 

I still work full-time, and it is a one-man operation, so I stay busy trying to keep up, but I love it. It has grown faster than I could have imagined, and I am excited for the future! 

What are your thoughts on Florida State so far this year?

FSU came into 2023 with high expectations, and those were fed rocket fuel after the LSU game. However, despite being 4-0 and ranked in the Top 5, FSU has honestly played about one good half of football (the second half vs. LSU).

That speaks to how far this team has come when you consider they blew out LSU and beat Clemson in Death Valley, something they had not done in almost a decade.

Some aspects have not been up to par with expectations, mainly the run game and pass defense, but both have been affected by injuries. Thankfully, it has not cost them yet. Hopefully, the BC game was a wake-up call because as high as the potential is for this team, they still have work to do. 

The bye week was perfectly timed, especially with Jordan Travis being banged up. Last year, FSU came out of the bye week on fire and won the next four games by a combined score of 173-39 and has not lost since. (Currently on a 10-game win streak) 

Hopefully, we see the same type of improvement coming out of the bye this year because I honestly feel if they play up to their highest potential, this team can win an ACC title and be in the hunt for a playoff spot. At the same time, there are still challenging games on the schedule, and if they fail to clean up some of the issues, it could cost them.


How has the Florida State program changed since the last time these teams met in 2018?

Let me first say that what a roller coaster ride it has been! I was at that game, and the atmosphere was electric. We thought we were on the verge of something special that night. Then games got played, and it was a disastrous ride to one of the lowest points in the last 50 years at FSU. I obviously don’t think Willie Taggart intended on things going like they did, but he wasn’t ready for a place like FSU. 

Mike Norvell came in to try and turn things around, and it only got worse. I do think people have to realize the mess he walked into. He inherited a program that Jimbo Fisher flew into the side of a mountain and Willie Taggart set on fire. The culture was broken, the talent level was declining, and on top of all that, year one for Norvell was the COVID year.

As bad as it was, FSU stuck with Norvell because there were signs that the program was being run correctly. The main issue was now a lack of talent and depth. After all, it is hard to run an offense that is “built for playmakers” without any playmakers. They addressed a lot of their deficiencies through the portal and have had an unbelievable hit rate with transfers.

Perhaps the single biggest factor in the turnaround at FSU has been a transformation of the offensive line by Alex Atkins. FSU struggled to conduct practice in the past because the depth was so bad. Now they have former Power 5 starters as depth players. The development of Jordan Travis has also been big for FSU. The talent level from top to bottom is much better now. However, the level of coaching and the culture in the locker room are night and day from what it was in 2018.

It is almost hard to believe how far FSU has come, knowing where they were just a short time ago. They have a great Athletic Director, facility upgrades on the way, and the fan support is back to where it needs to be. While success is never guaranteed, it seems like the future is bright at FSU, and I’m just thankful for it because that down period was ROUGH! 

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

There is so much potential waiting to be unlocked at a program like VT. They have some of the best and most loyal fans in the nation, a great game-day atmosphere, and have had success in the past. From the outside looking in, unfortunately, it sounds like the university failed to do what is necessary for the football program to compete at a high level in recent years.

That has put VT in a hard place. As you get further removed from historical success and do not have current success to sell either recruiting becomes extremely hard. This is something we saw happen at FSU. Virginia Tech has not had a top-25 recruiting class since 2018. Another tough year in 2023 isn’t going to help them get an infusion of talent, which is what they really need. FSU was lucky to have bounced back so quickly. I think the fear of every successful program that has fallen on hard times is becoming the next Nebraska or Miami, just 20 years of average. 

If I am being honest, when I saw VT hire Brent Pry, it did not scream they were ready to play big-time football again. I hope he proves me wrong because college football is better when VT is good, the ACC needs VT to be good, and Brent Pry is a likable guy who won me over at ACC media days.

On a personal note to VT fans. I flew to Pasadena in 2014 and watched FSU reach the top of the college football mountain. Then, just seven years later, I sat in Doak Campbell Stadium and watched FSU lose its first game to an FCS opponent in program history. To put it frankly, this recent down period sucked.

I know Saturdays are not much fun right now, but keep the faith because you never know when things will turn around, and it can happen faster than you expect. FSU started 0-4 in 2021 with a loss to Jacksonville State. Only two years later, they are off to a 4-0 start, ranked in the top 5, and trying to make a run at the playoffs. I honestly feel like Virginia Tech just needs a spark of success to reignite the program we all know it can be! 

What is your outlook for the future of the ACC?

Well… It’s not great. But they aren’t dead yet. The expansion to add SMU, Cal, and Stanford felt reactionary and didn’t really move the needle. It may just be rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic in the long run, but at least they did something.

The future of the ACC depends heavily on whether they can somehow renegotiate the TV contract for more money, and a lot of it. If they lose Clemson and FSU, they are in big trouble. Those two programs were top 15 in viewership in 2022, averaging over 2M weekly viewers. The next closest ACC team in viewership was NC State at 43rd with 881k.

TV networks only care about eyes on screens. If the ACC loses its two biggest viewership drivers, and we all know they aren’t getting Notre Dame, I don’t see how it could end well for the conference. 

To give perspective (counting future expansion), there were 16 Big Ten teams and 14 SEC teams that ranked above the third-highest ACC team in viewership. It’s hard to ask for the same money as the two power conferences when 85% of the conference doesn’t produce similar TV numbers. I know that sounds harsh, but the numbers are what they are.

Another thing to keep in mind with FSU and Clemson is that their biggest rivals are both in the SEC. So, they have to keep up with teams who will be making significantly more money if something doesn’t change. The standard at those two programs is to compete for national championships. That becomes harder when you are projected to make 30-50 million per year less than the other two power conferences in the not-so-distant future. 

The ACC must find a way to squeeze more revenue from their TV partners before those two programs find a way out of the GOR. 

As I write this, rumors are flying that Clemson is headed for the door as soon as October. If so, I would have to imagine FSU would be soon to follow. No concrete news has broken yet, but the ACC may look different after you read this. 

I don’t think the conference will have to dissolve if a few teams leave. However, the football success and TV viewership would obviously take a massive hit and likely lead to a revenue cut in the future. 

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

This was the hottest topic of the offseason. The majority of FSU fans, myself included, want to end up in the SEC. It just makes sense from a regional standpoint, we already play Florida every year, and FSU feels more like an SEC team than anything else. However, geography apparently does not matter when you have teams from California soon to be in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

During the offseason, the majority of signs pointed to the Big Ten. At the end of the day, I don’t think FSU really cares where they go as long as the revenue growth allows them to compete at the highest level. I wouldn’t take staying in the ACC completely out of the question if they can do something about the revenue. However, once the math makes sense to leave, they will head for the door.

If FSU does leave, I hope it is for the SEC. But I have a feeling it will end up being the Big Ten. This is a tough one, but it is obviously either the SEC, Big Ten, or ACC. I would love for them to stay put until our return trip to Blacksburg because I have always wanted to experience a game in Lane Stadium! 

What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?

In my opinion, FSU has two of the best wins so far this season. They beat LSU by 3 touchdowns and beat Clemson in Death Valley. However, they have continued to drop in the polls. They are obviously being punished for having two close games. 

The BC game was ugly, and while there were rumors that a lot of the team had the flu, it still should not have been that close. I also think winning in Death Valley is being underappreciated because Clemson was not ranked. As ACC fans know, that is no easy task, considering they had not previously lost an ACC home game since 2016.

I say all that to say this: FSU needs a win with some style points. I know this is not exactly breaking news to VT faithful, but as nicely as I can put it, the Hokies aren’t very good this year. While wins are wins, and if FSU wins every game by 1 point they will still be undefeated. However, for the sake of national perception, they can’t have another BC game against a bad team.

FSU has been a tale of two halves this season. They struggle in the first half but then play well in the second half. I would really like to see them put together a complete game against VT. They have struggled to run the ball and only had 22 yards against Clemson. Seeing that VT has allowed over 200 yards rushing in three of their four games this season, I’d like for FSU to get the run game going. 

On defense, the secondary has seen its fair share of struggles. They routinely make average quarterbacks look like Heisman candidates. Since VT lost Ali Jennings, they haven’t thrown for over 200 yards in a game. I would like to see the FSU secondary have a nice game to gain confidence.

I don’t see this one being particularly close. The game is sold out, and FSU is coming off a much-needed bye week. FSU has scored 30+ points in 10 straight games, and I feel good about them going over that number this week, too. As much as the Hokie offense has struggled, I don’t think FSU will shut them out because we haven’t held anyone scoreless since 2015. I also expect the backups to get a fair number of reps in this game.

I’m really just looking for FSU to play a clean game for four quarters and win as they should. There are not many remnants left from 2018, but for those of us who sat in Doak and watched the VT players mock the Warchant. I hope this is a revenge game. 

(The original answers were written prior to the Saturday night win against Pitt. Even though Pitt is struggling this season, this was a big win for Virginia Tech’s confidence and will be something they can build from going forward. Kyron Drones had a HUGE game. VT surpassed the 200-yard mark through the air, which I mention later on, and Drones’ dual-threat ability might just be the spark this offense needs. FSU really struggles with mobile quarterbacks (see the BC game), so I’m adding some points to the score total for VT. If Drones keeps playing at a high level, there are some very winnable games left on the schedule for VT.)

What’s your prediction for the game?

FSU 45 – VT 17 

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Pittsburgh vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

This team does good things in stretches but not consistently enough. The offense is good for 2-3 good drives per game. And the defense is generally good aside from a couple of big plays per game. Consistency is what this team needs to find. Until then, unfortunately, it’s going to be difficult to win football games.

Good drives defensively against Marshall

Good drives offensively against Marshall

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 80th
Offense: 97th
Defense: 54th
Special Teams: 51st

Pittsburgh

Overall: 53rd
Offense: 62nd
Defense: 46th
Special Teams: 86th


Pitt is struggling offensively. They are having the same type of offensive season as Virginia Tech. It’s been difficult for Pitt to run or pass this season. The good news for them is that Virginia Tech has one of the worst run defenses in the country. If Pitt just keeps the ball on the ground and feeds Rodney Hammond, he should have a big day. Expect big numbers from him on Saturday.

As usual, Pitt is an excellent defensive team. This is the big matchup problem on Saturday, Pitt’s defense going up against VT’s offense. Pitt does not give up many yards through the air, so Tech will have to keep the ball on the ground. Once again, they will need to get creative with their play calling to create space in the run game. The Hokies should consider misdirection and option plays to slow down the Pitt defense. Draw plays and inside runs will not cut it this week against this stout defense.

I don’t like the matchup of Pitt’s defense vs Virginia Tech’s offense. That seems like a huge mismatch. Tech has had trouble getting yards on the ground the past 3 weeks and this is will be an even bigger challenge. My guess is that the Pitt offense won’t have to do a lot on Saturday. The Pitt defense will deliver short fields and as long as Pitt can keep the ball on the ground, they should find some yards and points. Don’t expect a lot of yards from quarterback Phil Jurkovec, but Rodney Hammond will have a big day and deliver a win for the Panthers. I see this game going like the Rutgers game, close early with Pitt pulling away in the 2nd half.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 31, Virginia Tech 17

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Pittsburgh Q&A with The Loyal Sons

This week we are joined by Pittsburgh athletics podcast The Loyal Sons. You can follow them on Twitter at @TheLoyalSons. You can also check out their podcast here.

Tell us about yourself and your podcast.

We’re three lifelong Pitt fans. Through thick and thin, we’re die-hard fans. In 2018, we had the idea to make a Twitter account where we could collectively share our thoughts on Pitt athletics… but mostly jokes and memes. We gained a pretty decent following and in the summer of 2021, we made the decision to give podcasting a shot. Pitt having their best season in centuries certainly helped, but fast forward three years and we’re going strong. We’re far from journalists, but we offer the Pitt fan perspective in a unique way that speaks to the heart of Yinzers the nation-over.

What are your thoughts on Pitt so far this year?

Really good. And by really good I mean worse than we could have ever imagined. Phil Jurkovec looks atrocious and that kind of threw our entire offense out of whack. We have a good run game and Rodney Hammond is a dog but when that’s your entire offense and you’re constantly playing from behind, you’re in trouble. Frank Cignetti’s seat is about as hot as it can get. Both he and Phil have been dreadful. Gavin Bartholomew is a top tight end in the country but we can’t get him the ball more than twice a game. Our defense is still pretty good (I think) so they’ll keep us in games against other not-great teams.     


How has the Pitt program changed in the last five years?

Kenny Pickett helps. It’s tough to think about now but prior to this season, we felt REALLY good about the trajectory of the team. We followed up an ACC Championship with a 9-win season capped off by a Sun Bowl victory. Pat Narduzzi has been recruiting at a high level for Pitt standards too so the future looked bright. This team might be a solid QB away from being a 9ish win team on the field. Frank Cignetti’s 2006 playcalling and offensive scheme is not it, and there are very legitimate fears we could be squandering the program’s momentum by going conservative on offense.

What are your thoughts on having Virginia Tech assigned as a permanent ACC rival? 

I won’t complain about biennial trips to Blacksburg. Also, with all due respect, 2003 Frank Beamer isn’t walking through that door any time soon, so Pitt hasn’t exactly been assigned a guaranteed annual loss with this pairing. It’s a fun game that could become a fun rivalry between two programs that can consistently compete with each other. Even if we’ve kind of owned you since 2020 (editor’s note: send your hate mail to LoyalSonsEmail@gmail.com).

Do you view Virginia Tech as a rival program? 

We like them as an in-conference rival. You’ll never reach PSU/WVU level but that’s maybe a good thing. We despise them and they are insufferable. We used to hate VT but that was mostly because of the stretch when VT was overrated by the media. We’re pretty similar programs in a lot of ways so I think each fanbase gets that. 

What is your outlook for the future of the ACC?

It’s bad. I mean, I’m glad they expanded and added Cal and Stanford, and I’m very intrigued by the SMU addition. But I think it’s clear the conference’s most valuable assets are just waiting out the Grant of Rights until it’s fiscally feasible to bolt, and a couple primetime games on The CW won’t change that. Clemson, FSU, Miami, and UNC will take off for the SEC and B1G, and the rest of us will be left to scramble for whatever spots remain in the Big 12 – accepting whatever discount they require of us. In the long-run, I wouldn’t hate if the ACC took the Big 12’s realignment approach after the biggest programs get poached: add the most fun remaining G5 teams and at least build an entertaining mid-tier league. Tulane, JMU, App St, Coastal, ECU, WKU, etc. are all fun and  there for the taking.

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

Honestly, whoever will take us. We’ll be content if we aren’t in the AAC or some irrelevant conference. The B1G and Big 12 both make sense because of our rivals WVU and PSU (although they’re delusional and don’t consider us rivals). More than likely we’ll end up in the Big 12 or a watered-down version of the ACC.

What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?

U-G-L-Y. Bad QB play. Probably general sloppiness. No matter who comes out on top both fan bases will leave Lane Stadium disgusted by what they watched. I do think our defense is still pretty solid and will win us this game. Maybe first to 14 wins. I’m guessing Phil Jurkovec will start. We did just spend most of this Q&A bashing him but after he left the game due to injury at halftime against UNC, our backup Christian Veilleux somehow managed to look worse.

What’s your prediction for the game?

17-13 Pitt

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Marshall vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

There was some good from the Rutgers game and a lot of bad. The good? Tech found a quarterback in Kyron Drones that fits this offense. This offense needs to go back to what worked in 2016 with Jerod Evans — one read and go. That’s what I saw with Drones last week. We need to keep it simple. I’ve also spotted a pattern with this team:

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 78th
Offense: 92nd
Defense: 60th
Special Teams: 51st

Marshall

Overall: 72nd
Offense: 93rd
Defense: 38th
Special Teams: 94th


Marshall has a balanced offense. If Tech wants to win this week, they need to limit the big runs that have plagued them the past two weeks. Marshall has a talented running back in Rasheen Ali who can break a big play. The Hokies have to play their assignments and not lose contain on the running back. Tech needs to focus their attention on the run and make Marshall beat them through the air.

Marshall has a good secondary. If you’re going to beat them, you have to do it on the ground. This is where Kyron Drones needs to be able to gobble up yards on the ground to open the game up for the rest of the offense. This would be a good week to incorporate more option looks. This needs to be the Drones-Tuten show. This shouldn’t be the week the Hokies air it out all over the field.

Marshall is coming off an early bye week. I actually don’t like teams taking a bye week this early in the season. It usually causes more issues than it fixes. I’d expect Marshall to get off to a bit of slow start. The Hokies need to take advantage and work quick to get points on the board. They also need to make sure to put a couple of drives together to keep their defense from wearing out late in the game. I see this game like the Purdue game. Low-scoring and the team that can finish a drive in the 4th quarter wins.

Prediction: Marshall 24, Virginia Tech 17

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Marshall Q&A with The ThunderCast

You can follow the ThunderCast on Twitter @ThunderCast_Pod. You can also check out their blog and podcast here. The website has information for opposing fans making the trip to Huntington. The podcast is available in all audio formats and every episode is on YouTube in video format.

Tell us about yourself and your podcast. 

The ThunderCast began on April 1st, 2022. KD Hudnall previously ran the Moonshine Throwdown podcast which was about the Marshall and Western Kentucky rivalry. With the move to the Sun Belt Conference and abrupt ending to that rivalry, the podcast was going away. So he and Rus Livingood decided to launch The ThunderCast, focusing solely on Marshall University athletics, and covering all sports at Marshall. Episodes are at least weekly, and are available in video and audio only formats, clocking in around an average one and a half hours per episode. 

Tell us about your team this year. What are your expectations for Marshall this season?

Our expectations are pretty high. We have Marshall around nine wins in the regular season with the goal of a conference championship. The defense should be very tough again this year and the team should do well in the running game with the talented Rasheen Ali back fully healthy.  

What are your thoughts on playing Virginia Tech?

It’s a good regional opponent that makes a lot of sense playing on a regular basis. We would like to see the programs play a few times a decade. This looks like a rebuilding or down year for Virginia Tech with some areas of struggle, so we feel like we won’t be getting them at their best this season. 

How do you view the Virginia Tech program?

Virginia Tech has a great program with lots of success from the early 90s forward. They had a history of great special teams play under Frank Beamer and were a fun team to watch. Being regional, they were a team to root for when not playing the Herd. 

Are you excited to have a Power 5 team like Virginia Tech play in Huntington? 

Both Rus and KD hate the P5/G5 monikers and feel there is too much attempted separation of the conferences. Speaking personally, we are excited to watch our Thundering Herd play anywhere and everywhere, but especially at home. We’re not there to see the opponent.

Do you see Marshall joining a Power 4 (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) conference sometime in the future?

Not anytime soon, and that is totally fine with us. Everyone would welcome the additional revenue and viewership nationally that would coincide with such a move, but it does not seem likely in the near future.  We feel the Sun Belt is a terrific home for us with the regional play and the likeminded universities and fan bases. The Sun Belt truly feels special and like a throwback to when conferences were regional and all sports had easier travel. We could both see the Sun Belt get elevated in prominence as a conference rather than Marshall jumping to the SEC, Big Ten, etc.  

What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?

The noon kickoff is a little disappointing as it would have been more ideal to have more time to tailgate and socialize with fans from Virginia Tech. The atmosphere might not be as electric due to the timing versus what it would have been with a 3:30pm kickoff for instance. Still, it should be a fun time with a capacity crowd.  

What’s your prediction for the game?

Marshall controls the running game and limits Tech on the ground in comparison. The Herd pulls away in the second half and wins 28-10.  

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Rutgers vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Virginia Tech lost a close one to Purdue but there was a lot to be concerned about from that game. First, it looks like Ali Jennings may be out for a long time. That’s troubling because he is clearly this team’s number one receiving option. Second, in consecutive games this team could not run the ball at all. Third, things are a mess at quarterback where Grant Wells hasn’t performed well and now may be injured. This team has a lot of question marks going into the Rutgers game.

I owe the State of New Jersey an apology. I got schooled by @BillyRayTweets here:

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 73rd
Offense: 93rd
Defense: 50th
Special Teams: 21st

Purdue

Overall: 59th
Offense: 80th
Defense: 37th
Special Teams: 43rd


Rutgers is a mediocre offensive team. To be fair, they are very balanced. They do a good job of mixing the run in with the pass. Kyle Monangai is their most explosive running back. They use him like we used Raheem Blackshear (former Rutgers transfer) where he can get yards on the ground but also in the pass game. Their weakness on offense is their pass game. Look for Tech to try to force the issue and make QB Gavin Wimsatt beat them with his arm. This looks like an offense that Tech should be able to slow down, if they can stop Monangai and their run game.

Rutgers has a top-20 defense. This defense looks like it’s no joke. This is year 4 of Greg Schiano and you can tell he has put his mark on this defense. This defense is giving up only 40 rushing yards per game. Tech is coming off a game where they only rushed for 11 yards against a much worse defense. This seems like a mismatch and one that Rutgers should have a sizable advantage.

Rutgers looks like a solid team. They are trying to get their offense in gear but the defense is more than holding up their end. This seems like a tough spot for the Hokies in their first true road game. Tech’s offense is struggling and they are going up against a good defensive team. Not to mention, this could be Kyron Drones’ first start if Grant Wells isn’t able to go. This doesn’t look like the week that Tech’s offense will figure it out. More than likely this is a wake-up call for the offense.

Prediction: Rutgers 31, Virginia Tech 10

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Rutgers Q&A with Bruce Jones

You can follow Bruce on Twitter at @RuFan130. You can also check out his 501(c)(3) charitable organization at JennisToys.org. Bruce joined us this week for a game week Q&A.

Tell us about yourself and your charity.

My name is Bruce Jones. My wife, Kelly, and I met at Rutgers and graduated in 2010. We live in Central Jersey with our 3 boys. Jake is 3. Tyler and Ryan are 6 months old. I work in logistics and Kelly is an occupational therapist. Together we run a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in memory of my sister. You can check it out at JennisToys.org.

Tell us about your team this year. What are your expectations for Rutgers this season? 

The team this year is at a crossroad. We are in Schiano 2.0 year 4 and some fans are getting frustrated at the lack of success (myself included). Recruiting has really picked up however and the AD is making big investments into coaching. Back to the question… The team this year is built around a really strong defense and an offense hoping to figure it out. My prediction was 6-6 but it will certainly be a challenge. 

What are your thoughts on playing Virginia Tech? 

The thought of Virginia Tech gives me nightmares. My earliest memories as a Rutgers fan was coming to games in the 90s and getting run out of our own building by the Hokies. With that being said, I love playing one another. Good regional rivalry, old Big East foes. Great job by both schools making it happen.

How do you view the Virginia Tech program? 

They’re in a weird spot. Almost 2 decades straight of bowl games and the magic seems to be gone. I love Coach Pry. You have one of the best atmospheres in college football. I have no doubt you’ll find success again soon.

Do you think Virginia Tech would be a good fit for the Big Ten at some point in the future? 

I love the fit in so many ways. Great school. Great athletic department  I think the only issue is lack of AAU membership. 

What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game? 

I expect a defensive game. Two head coaches who really excel on that side of the ball battling it out. I’m sure we will see a lot of running from Rutgers and Wells slinging the ball around. Should be a fun one with a great atmosphere 

What’s your prediction for the game? 

Rutgers 22, Virginia Tech 17

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Purdue vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Virginia Tech took care of business against ODU. What did we learn from that game? Well, we found ourselves a couple of capable receivers in the transfer portal. When Grant Wells is settled in, he’s pretty good. And we have some pretty major issues run blocking. Not mention Virginia Tech still has the best entrance in the world.

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 65th
Offense: 84th
Defense: 49th
Special Teams: 59th

Purdue

Overall: 64th
Offense: 53rd
Defense: 81st
Special Teams: 118th

Purdue’s offense is led by Hudson Card, the former Texas Longhorn’s quarterback. After one game, Purdue’s offense looks a lot like the Hokies’ offense. They can pass well but not run the ball. Against Fresno State they ran for 3.6 yards per attempt. Hudson Card had a good day throwing for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Purdue secondary looked putrid against Fresno State. They gave up 371 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air. You can expect them to try to turn those numbers around this week. But after the Hokies offense has a good day through the air last week, you can expect Tech to try to air it out again this week.

Watch out for the return game. Last week, Purdue running back Tyrone Tracy returned a second half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. A breakdown on special teams could be costly in a close game.

Expect big plays in this game. Both teams are going to try to air it out. In that scenario, I like the Hokies secondary having the advantage. On paper, this looks like a game where the over could hit (O/U 49.5). In an even game, you like to go with the home team especially one with momentum coming off an opening week win.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Purdue 28

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Purdue Q&A with Andrew Ledman of Hammer and Rails

Andrew Ledman is the co-manager for the Purdue SB Nation site HammerandRails.com. You can follow Hammer and Rails on Twitter at @HammerandRails. Andrew joined us this week for a game week Q&A.

Tell us about yourself and your site.

I’m a 2008 and 2010 Purdue grad. Been a fan all my life. I’m the co-manager over at Hammer and Rails. We are the SB Nation site for Purdue athletics. I’ve been writing there since around 2015. 

Tell us about your team this year. What are your expectations for Purdue this season?

Honestly, who knows? We had a lot of turnover in the off-season including the coaching staff. I think most people think realistic expectations or best case scenario is 7-5 or 6-6. The loss to Fresno State this week probably makes 6-6 the best case scenario. The schedule is brutal this year and there are some obvious holes on this team. 

What are your thoughts on playing Virginia Tech?

It’s nice to play a non-conference opponent with a name and a proud tradition. That said, this isn’t my daddy’s Virginia Tech. I don’t really know what to expect from them but I always appreciate heading to a different campus to play a new opponent. 

How do you view the Virginia Tech program?

I don’t think I’m speaking out of school when I say that they aren’t as strong as they used to be. There was a time when playing VT would strike fear in me but right now it’s just not the same. I still expect a hard fought game though, don’t get me wrong. 

Do you think Virginia Tech would be a good fit for the Big Ten at some point in the future?

I think they do make a certain amount of sense educationally, but if this is you sniffing around for an invite just know that I don’t have that kind of power. If I did, it’s Notre Dame or no one. 

What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?

I think it’s going to be close. If you watched the Purdue game you saw some really bad secondary play, a leaky offensive line, and some bad receiver play. There’s a hope that some of those things will be fixed when Purdue gets a bunch of guys back from injury, but will that be next week? We just don’t know. 

What’s your prediction for the game?

I think Purdue finds a way to win this one. The offense, though it had difficulties last week, still showed an ability to put points on the board and I think the defense can do just enough for Purdue to pull out a victory.

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Old Dominion vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Brent Pry did a great job of adding talent this offseason via the transfer portal. On the depth chart released this week, you can see transfer portal additions starting all over the roster. Ali Jennings (ODU), Jaylin Lane (MTSU), Da’Quan Felton (Norfolk State), Bhayshul Tuten (North Carolina A&T), Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Florida) and Derrick Canteen (Georgia Southern). That’s a big talent infusion in one offseason.

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 72nd
Offense: 88th
Defense: 51st
Special Teams: 68th

Old Dominion

Overall: 121st
Offense: 129th
Defense: 79th
Special Teams: 115th


Old Dominion’s offense brought in new additions in offensive coordinator Kevin Decker and quarterback Grant Wilson from Fordham. Kevin Decker’s offense resembles an air raid offense where they like to air the ball out a lot and play high-tempo. What that will look like in Game 1? Who knows? But that’s what ODU will be trying to do against the Hokies. Tech will need to get pressure on the quarterback to try to make Grant Wilson uncomfortable in the passing game. Consistent pressure will likely need to a turnover or two. Look for Antwuan Powell-Ryland and Keyshawn Burgos to make a big impact.

Defense is the strength of ODU’s squad. Last year, their secondary forced 12 interceptions. Four of those were throws from Grant Wells. This year, the Hokies quarterback needs to avoid mistakes and take what the defense gives him. It would help if the Hokies could keep the ball on the ground and get yards from Bhayshul Tuten and Michael Thomas. That’s a one-two punch that the Hokies didn’t have when they played ODU last season.

In the first game of the year, there is an opportunity for big plays on special teams. Last season, the game flipped on a bad snap that cost the Hokies seven points and was a 10-point swing in what should’ve been a makable field goal. This season, the Hokies need to get a big play on special teams either in the return game or on a blocked kick. Those are the type of plays that can decide a game. Especially in the opener.

The Hokies look like solid favorites in this one. Vegas has this game pegged with Tech as a two touchdown favorite. If Tech can avoid a turnover and penalty-filled meltdown like last season, this should be a comfortable win. The talent infusion that the Hokies brought in the offseason should pay dividends in a game like this. Tech has the clear talent advantage. Expect this game to be low-scoring with Tech being able to score enough to let the defense hold on for the win.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 24, Old Dominion 10