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NC State vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Date & Time: Saturday, September 27, 2025 — 7:00 PM ET
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
TV / Streaming: The CW (Thom Brennaman, Will Blackmon, Wes Bryant)
Odds / Line: NC State is favored by ~10.5 points
Series History: Virginia Tech holds the all-time series lead, 28–20–4, although NC State has won the last two matchups

The Hokies looked competent against Wofford. I’d maybe even go so far as to say well-coached. It’s easy to look good against an overmatched opponent. The real test is this week to see if the Hokies can look better than their first three games against a Power 4 team. It’s not easy to circle the wagons after a coaching change, especially with some players jumping ship but I want to see a strong level of effort from this team regardless of the outcome.

First, Virginia Tech will have to be able to slow down NC State’s run game. If they get dominated at the line of scrimmage like they did in the first three games, this one will be over quickly. RB Hollywood Smothers has been able to put up 500+ yards through the first four games of the season. He is a player that will be tough for the Hokies to stop unless they have done a lot of work on their run fits in the last two weeks.

On offense, the Hokies have to be able to protect Kyron Drones. As we saw on Saturday, when he has time to throw, he looks like a pretty darn good QB. He makes decisions quickly and accurately. BUT, when he’s pressured, he turns into the bad version of himself that becomes more indecisive and inaccurate. We’re at a place where our talent on the OL is what it is but hopefully Coach Monty and Matt Moore can figure out something that works to slow down NC State’s pass rush.

NC State has had trouble with turnovers and special teams lapses in the first four games. If the Hokies can capitalize on mistakes, that could help the Hokies stay in the game. The Hokies will need a couple of big plays to keep this game competitive.

Virginia Tech has looked really bad so far this year but this game is likely closer than the experts think. The Hokies have not looked good so far but they are capable of playing with most ACC teams aside from the top teams in the league. This is one where if the Wolfpark are overlooking the Hokies, it could come back to bite them. All things being equal, I like the Pack to win by around 10. This will be an entertaining game but I don’t expect the Pack to deliver a blowout like the Vandy and ODU games. Hopefully, we see a bit of a turnaround under Coach Monty.

Prediction: NC State 31, Virginia Tech 21

Betting Line & Movement

  • The current spread has NC State listed as ~-10.5 favorites.
  • The over/under (total) is sitting around 56.5 points.
  • The moneyline has NC State strongly favored (around –410) with Virginia Tech an underdog at about +320.
  • The line has moved upward from an earlier NC State spread of ~7.5 points.

So, the market is signaling confidence in a clear Wolfpack victory, and bettors have pushed the line further in NC State’s direction.

Against the Spread (ATS)

  • NC State is 2–2 ATS this season, and 2–1 as a favorite so far.
  • Virginia Tech is 0–4 ATS this year; they have not covered in any game to date.
  • NC State historically struggles ATS at home: they are 2–7 ATS in their last 9 home games.
  • Virginia Tech, conversely, has had some success against the spread historically vs NC State: they are 6–1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.

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Wofford vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Date/Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
Kickoff: 12:00pm, Saturday, September 20th
Broadcast: ACC Network Extra / ESPN+

A coaching change was badly needed. The administration made the right decision because prolonging it was not going to do any good. A coaching change gives this team a chance at a new opportunity under a new head coach. That doesn’t always work out but this team was in need of a reset. In the last two games, it looked like they had quit on this coaching staff. That’s not acceptable no matter who is coaching. Hopefully, Coach Monty can motivate the boys to play for each other and finish the season strong.

Wofford is a team that the Hokies should be able to line up and beat in almost every matchup. Tech should have a significant size and speed advantage. With a VT offense that has struggled so far this year, if I were Coach Monty I’d line up and run the ball. Build some confidence early, then let Drones throw it after you get up by a couple of scores. I see this as a game that should be out of reach in the 2nd quarter. As we all know, it’s never that easy with the Hokies but at some point, talent has to win out. And I believe this year’s team does have the talent even though they haven’t always had the coaching so far this season.

Wofford has a decent defense for an FCS team. It’s one that will likely give the Hokies more challenges than you’d expect from an FCS team. Still the Hokies should be able to pull away pretty quickly in this one. If it’s still a low scoring or close game at halftime, that’s a major concern. The Hokies should probably have three score lead by halftime.

The Terriers have struggled to score points this year. Tech shouldn’t have much trouble stopping their attack. They have two QBs that have not been particularly accurate this year and have taken a lot of sacks. They have a pretty good ground game but still one where the Hokies DL should be able to stop.

There honestly isn’t a lot to write about for this game. Tech should be able to dominate if they show up with even a hint of motivation. The coaching change and hitting a reset on the entire program is probably enough motivation to get the guys to where they need to be. It won’t be perfect and it will be far from beautiful, but if the Hokies can focus on lining up and running the ball, they should be in good shape. Wofford doesn’t have the offense to really challenge the Hokies struggling defense. The Hokies should be able to keep Wofford off the board most of the day. This week the Hokies get off the mat and look like a competent football team against an overmatched opponent. This would be a good week to get their confidence up before ACC play.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 42, Wofford 13

Betting Line / Odds

  • Spread: Virginia Tech -40+ (projected)
  • Over/Under: ~55 points

Projected score (probability model): VT ~ 46 — Wofford ~ 9
Projected margin: ~ +38 VT
VT win probability: ~ 99.6% → Fair ML ≈ -26,000 (Wofford ≈ +2,600)

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Old Dominion vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Date & Time: Saturday, September 13th, 7:00pm ET
Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia
Broadcast: ACC Network (TV), Virginia Tech Sports Network (Radio)

The Brent Pry era at Virginia Tech is over. Whether it happens this week or in three months, he is cooked. He has had many opportunities to right the ship at Virginia Tech and simply has not shown any results. I would argue he doesn’t have a single big win in his 3+ years at Tech. Expectations here have changed over the years but that simply isn’t going to cut it. That wouldn’t cut it at most schools.

Old Dominion is a solid team. They played top 25 Indiana close in the opener and then spanked NC Central last week. This isn’t a team that the Hokies can take lightly. The point spread in this indicates a one possession game, which seems likely in my mind. Virginia Tech is a more talented team but they certainly haven’t looked like one the last two weeks — particularly in 2nd half of games. Expect a rock fight this week.

Virginia Tech saw QB Colton Joseph last year when he came into the game late and only threw two passes and rushed three times. Seems like a solid passer and dual-threat runner. I don’t think he is Diego Pavia but could pose similar issues for the Hokies. He gets the ball a lot in the run game so the Hokies need to be ready to stop an option-style attack, similar to Vanderbilt’s.

The Hokies need to watch out for RB Trequan Jones who has only touched the ball a few times this year but can break huge runs. It’ll be important to keep him boxed in when he gets touches. Playing disciplined football will be key this week.

As usual, ODU likes to spread the ball out to a lot of receivers. There isn’t really one guy you can key on, which has been their game plan for a few years now. They’ve got a couple of big receivers in Ja’Cory Thomas and Tre Brown who could give the Hokies trouble on jump balls downfield.

ODU has shown that they are a team that can be run on. Indiana rushed for 309 yards on them and NC Central put up 136 yards in a blowout. If Tech wants to win, they need to be able to run the ball consistently against a team that has had trouble stopping the run the first two weeks of the season. ODU is very good in the red zone so they Hokies will need to make sure to punch the ball in when they get inside the 20. An effective running game will help with that.

ODU is a very penalty prone team. That might be something that can help out the Hokies on Saturday. This game will be close so penalties and turnovers could easily swing the outcome. Again, disciplined football would help out a lot this week.

This is a very difficult game to predict. Virginia Tech has the clear talent advantage but they have been playing awful football in the 2nd half of the first two games. If Tech can put together 60 minutes of football, they should be fine. But if the 4th quarter team from the first games shows up, all bets are off. My guess is we get something in the middle. Which still isn’t great but might be enough to squeak a win against a Sun Belt team. Expect a lot of ugly football on Saturday.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 28, Old Dominion 24

Betting Lines Overview

Over/Under (Total Points): Consensus tightly sits between 50.5 and 51 points.

Point Spread: Virginia Tech is favored by 7.5 points, with several sportsbooks offering similar spreads. Circa Sports had initially listed them as 10-point favorites, though that appears to have adjusted.

Moneyline: The Hokies are around –305, implying a win probability of roughly 75%. Old Dominion is priced around +245 to +250.

Predictive Models & Simulations

  • SP+ (Bill Connelly’s model)
    Offers a 67% win probability for Virginia Tech, with a projected final score of 31–24 in favor of the Hokies. This system adjusts for tempo and opponent quality and is designed to be forward-looking—not rewarding luck or poor scheduling.

  • FPI (ESPN’s model)
    While direct probability figures weren’t quoted in recent coverage, FPI is mentioned in earlier reporting as giving Virginia Tech around a 65–66% chance to win.

  • Dimers Simulation Model
    Simulated 10,000 hypothetical matchups and projects a 63% win probability for the Hokies, with an expected score of 28–23.

  • Picks And Parlays (Pundit Opinion)
    Bucking the trend, this analysis believes Old Dominion could pull off the upset. They predict a 27–21 win for ODU and recommend betting on ODU +275.

Predictive Models vs. Betting Lines

  • Spread (VT favored by 7.5 points): SP+ and Dimers output a projected margin close to 6–8 points, aligning with the betting line and suggesting the market accurately reflects statistical expectations.

  • Moneyline (~–300 for VT): Implied probability here (~75%) is a bit higher than simulated win probabilities, indicating sportsbooks build in vigorish (bookmaker margin) or public bias toward favorites.

  • Total Points (~50–51): Both models suggest a reasonable combined score outcome (e.g., 31–24 = 55 total; 28–23 = 51), confirming the market’s total points projection.

Summary Table

Source / ModelVT Win ProbabilityProjected Score
SP+~67%31–24 (VT)
FPI~66% (est.)—
Dimers Simulations~63%28–23 (VT)
Picks and Parlays (Pundit)—21–27 (ODU upset)
Betting Line – Moneyline~75% (implied)—
Betting Line – Spread—VT favored by 7.5
Betting Line – Over/Under—~50.5–51 total

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Vanderbilt vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Date & Time: Saturday, September 6th, 7:30pm ET
Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia
Broadcast: ACC Network (TV), Virginia Tech Sports Network (Radio)

Virginia Tech had a huge opportunity to reclaim respectability in Atlanta but instead fell on their faces in the fourth quarter. An 0-2 start would be a killer for confidence and motivation this season. This is as close to a must-win game as you can have in week 2. If Pry loses this game, it might be tough to ever get off the hot seat at Virginia Tech.

The Virginia Tech defense looked much better against South Carolina than they did last season. Were there missed tackles? Yes. Were there missed assignments? Yes. But overall the defense looked much more physical and aggressive than at almost any point in the past three seasons. They were running to the ball which was a staple under Bud Foster but hasn’t been seen much since.

The key to this game is for Kyron Drones not to let himself get outplayed by Diego Pavia. Tech’s defense is expected to do a better job of keeping Pavia contained this year but he will still be the best QB on the field on Saturday. The Hokies can’t let Diego Pavia dominate the QB matchup. In order for the Hokies to win, that matchup has to be somewhat close or win the matchup outright.

Virginia Tech has to pound the rock and set up play action. I know Phillip Montgomery likes to throw ball around but this needs to be a run-first team. The Hokies are at their best when they are running the ball and setting up play action downfield. They had some success running the ball on Sunday but will need to be better this week. Drones needs to be a bigger contributor to the rushing attack.

Virginia Tech forced zero turnovers on Sunday. The Hokies will increase their odds of winning if they can win the turnover battle. This is where they need to be in the backfield early and often to harass Diego Pavia and force him into mistakes and takeaways.

Players to Watch

QB Diego Pavia
RB Sedrick Alexander
TE Eli Stowers

Virginia Tech is 9-3 in night games in Lane Stadium since 2020. Playing in Lane at night still remains a tough task for most teams. The Hokies need to feed off that energy and build on the good things they did on Sunday. If Tech can contain Diego Pavia and force him to use his arm, they should be in good position to win. Watch to see if the Hokies are able to run the ball early in this game. If they can run to move the chains, that’s a good sign. Whether Vegas likes it or not, don’t pick against the Hokies in night games in Lane. This feels like the week that things turn for the Hokies.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Vanderbilt 20

Betting Line

Spread: Virginia Tech is favored by approximately 1 point (−1 to −1.5) across multiple sportsbooks. For instance, DraftKings lists Virginia Tech at −1.5 (–110)

Over/Under (Total): The game is set at 47.5 points, a consistent number across major platforms

Moneyline: Virginia Tech is slightly favored—around –115, with Vanderbilt lined around –105 to –102

Early Line Movement: Some early reports even noted Vanderbilt may have been a 3-point underdog, though this appears to have settled closer to a 1-point margin

Model Projections

ESPN FPI (Football Power Index)

Virginia Tech Win Probability: 63.3%

This projection dropped slightly (about 3.8%) after VT’s loss in Week 1. 

Bill Connelly’s SP+

Projected Score: Vanderbilt 28, Virginia Tech 24

Win Probability: Vanderbilt favored at 59% to win according to SP+ efficiency metrics. 

Data Skrive (Fox Sports / AP)

Spread: Virginia Tech –1.5 (−108) Total (O/U): 47.5

Predicted Score: Virginia Tech 29, Vanderbilt 21

Implied Win Probability: VT ~53.5%; Vandy ~51.0% (based on moneyline). 

Dimers Simulations

Win Probability: Virginia Tech 52%; Vanderbilt 48%.

Reflects a near-even matchup with a slight edge to Tech. 

BetMGM Model

Win Probability – Tech Wins: 54.5%

Probability Tech Covers Spread (1 point): 51.3%

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South Carolina vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Date & Time: Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia (Aflac Kickoff Game)
Broadcast: ESPN (TV), Virginia Tech Sports Network (Radio)

The Hokies start with a huge opportunity against a ranked SEC opponent on national TV. You can’t ask for a bigger stage if you’re Brent Pry and the Hokies. A win on Sunday could go a long way toward bringing back belief in the program.

South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers is impressive. He’s a big QB who can run and throw. I’m not buying into the Heisman hype but he certainly should be a concern for the Hokies. Particularly on the ground. He’s a guy who is tough to tackle and the Hokies had big issues with tackling and physicality last year. I expect him to have a good day on the ground on Sunday.

I’m also concerned about the size of South Carolina’s receivers. Those are physical matchups that should give the Hokies trouble. Expect Sellers to throw up a couple of jump balls and have his receivers come down with them. They are simply bigger than our corners and safeties.

If there is a silver lining for the Hokies is that South Carolina has had OL issues in the past. This might be an area where the Hokies could exploit to get pressure on Sellers. New Hokies DC Sam Siefkes might have some opportunities to bring the blitz and get home against Sellers. But with those big wide receivers out there, he needs to pick his spots.

The South Carolina defense was a very strong unit in 2024 but they only return 49% of that production in 2025. So this might not be the look like the same group as last year. This is an aggressive defense that likes to create turnovers. The Hokies will have to take care of the ball against a group which will be looking to create havoc. I’d expect a strong defensive performance from the Gamecocks limiting what the Hokies are able to do offensively.

Ultimately, I don’t think the Hokies can match South Carolina’s physicality. I’m a big believer that the more physical team usually wins. Unless the Hokies did a 180 in the weight room in the offseason, they aren’t on the same level as South Carolina. I hope I’m wrong but this feels like a game that’s not close in the 4th quarter.

Prediction: South Carolina 31, Virginia Tech 14

Betting Lines & Statistical Projections

South Carolina is a 7.5-point favorite (FanDuel & BetMGM), with a moneyline of around –325 / +260 and over a 70% win probability. 

Predictive models lean SC’s way—SP+ projects a 30‑21 Gamecock win (72% probability).

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2025 Preseason ACC Predictions

A preseason prediction for all 17 ACC teams heading into the 2025 college football season.

Projected ACC StandingsComments

12-0		Clemson looks like a complete team that could be 13-0 headed into the CFP

11-1		Expect Kevin Jennings to take a bit of a step back this year but the schedule almost assures a really strong season.

10-2		Color me a bit skeptical of Mario Cristobal and Miami but the schedule is there to be a CFP contender.

9-3		The Haynes and Haynes combo is not to be trifled with. Brent Key seems to have finally found a roster that can compete for an ACCCG berth.

9-3		Manny Diaz proved me wrong last year. With a good transfer QB and soft schedule, they will make noise this year.

8-4		Offense should be really good. Defense — who knows?

8-4		Dave Doeren is usually able to pull together a solid squad every year but will that defense hold up after all the transfers?

6-6		Too much talent to be as bad as last year. Will the new influx transfers this year work out for them? Hard to pick anything but middle of the road.

6-6		Solid additions through the portal but Brent Pry is still the head coach.

6-6		Pitt and Pat Narduzzi are trending toward becoming a perennial 6-6 team.

5-7		Bill Belichick is a football genius but he doesn’t block, tackle or run the ball.

5-7		They have a great RB and that’s pretty much it. However, that may be enough to win 5 games with that schedule.

4-8		Tough schedule and not enough talent. Not a great combination.

4-8		Fran Brown might get a reality check in year 2.

4-8		Soft schedule might help them out a lot but ultimately they have to show they have become a better team when they hit the field.

3-9		Cal football looks lost at the moment. At least they have the #Calgorithm.

3-9		Tough schedule. Transfer losses. Interim head coach and a new AD trying to make his mark. Looks like a bottom-out season for Stanford.
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2025 Virginia Tech Season Preview

Last season left a lot to be desired. Brent Pry’s team showed flashes of progress but stumbled in close games, finishing with more questions than answers. Now, Year 3 feels like a crossroads. With new coordinators in place (OC Philip Montgomery and DC Sam Siefkes) and a retooled roster, Pry must prove that his rebuild has real momentum—or risk being remembered as another false start in Blacksburg. The good news? Many of Tech’s losses were by a single score. The margin between pretenders and contenders might be slimmer than it appears.

Coaching Staff:

This season is all about Brent Pry. Can he win close games? Can he inspire confidence with his late game decision-making? How will his offseason moves look on the field? If Brent Pry can’t win with these new coordinators, his time might be up in Blacksburg.

Offense:

Kyron Drones remains the engine of this offense, and his health will determine how far the Hokies can go. At his best last season, he showed flashes of being a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, but nagging injuries limited his consistency. If he can stay on the field and get reliable support from the playmakers around him, his ceiling is as high as any QB in the ACC. But if he goes down again, Virginia Tech’s hopes for the season could unravel quickly.

With Bhayshul Tuten off to the NFL, Virginia Tech turned to the transfer portal to reload its backfield—and the newcomers bring plenty of intrigue. Terion Stewart headlines the group, a powerful runner with the potential to make a Tuten-level impact right away. Behind him, Braydon Bennett and Marcellous Hawkins add depth and versatility, giving the Hokies a rotation that should keep defenses honest and the ground game productive.

The wide receiver room gets a major boost from the additions of Donovan Greene and Cameron Seldon, two proven veterans who can make an immediate impact. Their presence should stabilize the passing game and take pressure off the younger receivers, who are still developing and largely unproven. With this mix of experience and upside, Kyron Drones has a balanced group of weapons to lean on—something that could make the difference in close games.

The offensive line should take a clear step forward this season—bank on it. With veteran coach Matt Moore now leading the group, the Hokies expect a return to the kind of physical, disciplined line play that defined the Vance Vice era. Fans should be encouraged: this unit looks ready to provide the stability and toughness the offense has been missing.

Defense:

The defense will feature plenty of new faces this season, which brings both risk and opportunity. With a new coordinator in charge, it may take time for the unit to gel, but considering last year’s struggles, a fresh start could be exactly what this group needs. The bar isn’t high, and with the right leadership, there’s significant room for growth on this side of the ball.

Up front, the defensive line looks steady, if not star-powered. There may not be an All-ACC caliber disruptor like APR this year, but the group has four dependable contributors who should keep the pressure consistent. Expect sack production to be more evenly spread across the unit. The transfer additions at defensive end bring needed juice off the edge and should help elevate the pass rush.

Linebacker play, on the other hand, has been a glaring weakness. Under Chris Marve, the group consistently underperformed, struggling with both assignments and tackling. The hope is that a new defensive coordinator can breathe life into the unit. If the linebackers find their footing, this could be a much improved defense.

The secondary might quietly be the strength of this team. There’s a healthy blend of veteran presence and emerging talent, plus enough depth to rotate without major drop-off. While it may not be an elite group on the ACC level, it projects as solidly above average and should show noticeable improvement from last year.

Ultimately, the linebackers will decide how far this defense can go. If Sam Siefkes can unlock their potential, the Hokies could once again field the kind of tough, reliable defense fans have come to expect. If not, this unit risks another year of middling results.

Key Players to Watch

Quarterback Kyron Drones: If Drones returns to his 2023 form, this offense can go places.

Running Back Terion Stewart: Bhayshul Tuten left a big hole on this roster. We need Stewart to be the bowling ball running back that Tuten was.

Defensive Ends Ben Bell and James Djonkam: APR’s production needs to be replaced by these two transfer additions. We need to see big results from both of these guys.

Non-Conference Matchups:

Virginia Tech’s non-conference slate is manageable but not without challenges. The showdown with South Carolina looms large, offering a chance at a statement win against a Top 25 opponent. Vanderbilt’s visit to Blacksburg should be competitive, especially with dynamic quarterback Diego Pavia under center. Beyond that, Old Dominion and Wofford at home are must-win games the Hokies can’t afford to slip on.

ACC Outlook:

Virginia Tech is picked to finish 11th in the ACC preseason poll. That sounds about right given the schedule. Tech should finish in the middle of the pack in the ACC.

Conclusion:

This season feels like a defining moment for Brent Pry and Virginia Tech football. The Hokies have the pieces to take a meaningful step forward: a dual-threat quarterback with untapped potential, fresh playmakers from the transfer portal, and a defense hungry for redemption. But the schedule won’t offer many freebies, and bowl eligibility may once again come down to the final weeks.

If Pry can guide this team to 7 or 8 wins, he’ll buy himself real momentum and silence the whispers about his future. If the Hokies stumble to another 6–6—or worse—it may be time for some changes in Blacksburg.

Tough games (<40% chance to win)

South Carolina and Miami. Both games should have the Hokies as two-score underdogs.

Toss-up games (50-50 games)

Vanderbilt. NC State. Georgia Tech. Louisville. Florida State. These games are the difference between 10-2 and 5-7.

Should win games (>60% to win)

Old Dominion. Wofford. Wake Forest. California. Virginia. If the Hokies can win these five games, they only need to win one more to be bowl eligible.

Key games for the Hokies: South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Miami

Upset Alert: at NC State

Game By Game Predictions

South Carolina (in Atlanta)
Vanderbilt
Old Dominion
Wofford
at NC State
Wake Forest
at Georgia Tech
California
Louisville
at Florida State
Miami
at Virginia
Virginia Tech Game by Game Predictions


Final Regular Season Record: 6-6 (3-5 in the ACC)
Expected finish: 9th in the ACC

Bowl Game Prediction:

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Duke’s Mayo Bowl Preview and Prediction

Let’s look at this season in a glass half full, glass half empty perspective. If you’re looking at it half-empty, then Virginia Tech took a very talented team that only went 6-6 this year. The half-full view is that Brent Pry keeps reloading talent and producing a much more talented and deeper team than Virginia Tech has had in many years. Keep loading up on talent and eventually that will turn into a good season. The question is how much more time does Brent Pry get to do that?

Let’s get something out of the way first. This is essentially a first look at Virginia Tech’s 2025 team. Transfers have gone. NFL prospects are sitting out. We’re basically getting Virginia Tech’s second string against whatever Minnesota decides to trot out. Watch with low expectations and keep an eye on which young guys stand out for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech isn’t Pinstripe Bowl levels of bad. I think they will be trotting enough talent to be able to be competitive and maybe even possibly win. But I wouldn’t count on it. My guess is this game looks more like the Military Bowl last year but Tech is playing the role of Tulane. They can keep it close for most of the game with Minnesota pulling away late.

I don’t have a lot of analysis here because the teams are so different than their regular season forms but I will say I don’t like the look of our OL. Expect Pop Watson to be under duress early and often in this one. This is a game where Tech will need to scheme a lot of roll-outs, screen passes and draws against what should be an aggressive defensive line.

If I was the Hokies’ coaching staff, I’d go out and play with house money and put on a show. Trick plays galore and let the young guys have fun. I know folks who paid a lot of money to travel to Charlotte don’t want to hear that but that’s the best we’re likely to offer. Just have fun and treat it like a more fun version of the Spring Game.

This game is likely to end in a lopsided win for Minnesota. What Tech should focus on is having fun and getting tape on their young players. Bowl games have turned into glorified exhibitions (whispers: they’ve always been). Tech should max-out the fun element in a game whose outcome is a bath in mayonnaise. Don’t worry so much about the scoreboard and take heart the philosophy “f*** it, we ball.” Nothing really to lose, everything to gain. Play with house money in this one.

Prediction: Minnesota 34, Virginia Tech 17

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How I Did With My Predictions This Year and ACC Final Thoughts

Here’s a link to my preseason predictions: https://treadmillhorse.com/2024/08/07/2024-virginia-tech-season-preview/

Last year, I went 9-3 with my Game Week predictions and once again this year I went 9-3 with my Game Week predictions. It’s definitely easier to get a read on a team once they’ve played a few games, not to mention the help of advanced stats and Vegas lines. Virginia Tech underperformed this year but I generally had a good read on them week-to-week. What I couldn’t predict were coaching gaffes and late-game defensive meltdowns.

GamePreseason PredictionGame Week PredictionResult
at Vanderbilt
Marshall
at Old Dominion
Rutgers
at Miami
at Stanford
Boston College
Georgia Tech
at Syracuse
Clemson
at Duke
Virginia
Prediction Record7-59-3
Virginia Tech Game by Game Predictions

Here’s a link to our ACC Panel Predictions: https://treadmillhorse.com/2024/08/21/2024-acc-football-preseason-predictions/

Final thoughts on the ACC Standings:

Final ACC Standings Comments

8-0 (11-1)		Shocking for SMU to go 8-0 in conference. They were fortunate to miss Clemson, Miami and Syracuse this season.

7-1 (9-3)		Clemson can roll out of bed and make the title game. Funny that going 7-1 in conference was considered a down year for them.

6-2 (9-3)		Miami had a Heisman trophy caliber QB and still couldn’t make the title game. They’ll need some luck to make the CFP.

5-3 (9-3)		I was not a believer in Fran Brown when he was hired. He had some nice wins this year. None better than beating Miami in Week 14.

5-3 (8-4)		The win at Clemson was really good. The rest of the results are a bit disappointing for what was supposed to be a very good team this year.

5-3 (7-5)		What I’ll remember is the win against Miami and taking Georgia to 8 OTs. They look for real under Brent Key.

5-3 (9-3)		Manny Diaz is off to a hot start. Didn’t beat the top teams but they beat everybody else.

4-4 (6-6)		This team was a preseason CFP dark horse. They needed to beat UVA in the final week to make a bowl game. Disappointing.

4-4 (7-5)		Played close games against everyone even if they were really good or really bad.

3-5 (6-6)		Lost to the good teams and beat the bad teams. Getting demolished by Tennessee and Clemson didn’t inspire a lot of confidence.

3-5 (7-5)		Started 7-0. Finished 0-5. Yikes. Reminds me of Virginia Tech teams in the early 00s.

3-5 (7-5)		Finishing the year losing 6 of the last 7 is a bad look. The one win was against Pitt who was also in freefall at the end of the year.

3-5 (6-6)		They beat a bowl team in Week 1. The rest of the results were blech. Giving up 70 points to JMU is a thing that happened

2-6 (6-6)		I love the #Caligorithm. Winning at Auburn was a nice win for the ACC. Losing against Florida State is unforgivable.

2-6 (4-8)		Best win is at NC State. Other than that, not much to look at here.

2-6 (3-9)		Beating Syracuse and Louisville is wild considering how they performed in the rest of their games.

1-7 (2-10)		Under no circumstance should this team have beaten Cal. How do you go from 13-0 to 2-10. A special kind of bad in Tallahassee. Karma is real.
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Virginia vs Virginia Tech Preview and Prediction

Things have really started to fall apart on Brent Pry. This season kicked off with so much promise. And now we’re finishing in only what could be considered a worst-case scenario for the season. It’s not unusual for Virginia Tech to find themselves needing a win in the last game of the season to make a bowl. What makes it so unusual this season is that the expectations were so much higher. This season can only be categorized as a massive flop. There is going to have to be a lot of soul searching going on at Merryman this offseason.

SP+ Rankings

Virginia Tech

Overall: 31st
Offense: 41st
Defense: 40th
Special Teams: 41st

Virginia

Overall: 81st
Offense: 88th
Defense: 80th
Special Teams: 66th

Virginia has a decent passing offense when they have time to throw. They are one of the worst teams in the country at protecting the quarterback. This is a game where APR and the defensive line should shine. QB Anthony Colandrea has been going through a rough stretch lately and he took 9 sacks in his last game vs SMU. If Tech can keep pressure on him, they should be able to rattle him and maybe force him into a couple of mistakes. His play early on is something to keep an eye on.

Virginia gives up a lot of yards through the air. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they will likely be playing Pop Watson who does not appear to be a seasoned passer. This may be a game where Tech needs to get creative in ways they run the football. Run the ball as many different ways as you can come up with. Virginia Tech really struggled to run the ball against Duke. This week, their best gameplan will be to establish the run early and often since the pass game doesn’t seem like it’s an option with Pop Watson behind center.

These rivalry games with Virginia are always weird. They are very difficult to predict. The uncommon becomes common in these games. All things being equal, I think Virginia Tech has more talent. However, Tech has a head coach who can’t coach his way out of a wet paper bag. So who knows what happens? I pick these games by looking at what the teams look like on paper. And on paper, it looks like a 11- point victory for the Hokies. That doesn’t mean it’ll happen though.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 28, Virginia 17