A historically bad year with my predictions, where I went 7-5 in the preseason and 8-4 with my week-to-week predictions. But I did go 6-0 with my week-to-week predictions in the second half of the season. It took me a bit to get a feel for who this team actually was. Hopefully, in the future I can predict more wins and fewer losses.
Virginia found their footing this year and looked like a legit team. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find their best game in the ACC Championship Game.
6-2 (8-4)
This is a team (like Virginia) that benefited from a soft ACC schedule. Massive disappointment the last week of the season with a chance to go to Charlotte.
6-2 (10-2)
Miami needs to stop dropping games they shouldn’t. Other than that, they represented the ACC very well in non-conference games.
6-2 (9-3)
This could’ve been a CFP team before they lost 3 of their last 4 games.
6-2 (9-3)
Overall, a pretty good year but that loss to WVU looks pretty bad in hindsight.
6-2 (8-5)
The ACC champs. Probably the most unlikely ACC champs since Wake won the league in ’06. Manny Diaz continues to impress.
6-2 (7-5)
One of the most up and down seasons in the league. At least they have a quarterback.
4-4 (7-5)
Disappointing year by Clemson’s standards but at least they won their last four games.
4-4 (7-5)
As Jekyll and Hyde as your going to find in this league.
4-4 (8-4)
Look out because Wake Forest has 2026 sleeper written all over them.
4-4 (8-4)
After a great start, collapsed down the stretch in ACC play.
3-5 (4-8)
Generally, not good but beating Cal the way they did was impressive.
2-6 (5-7)
Salvaged a season that looked like it was headed down the toilet. You have to wonder if they are going to regret not firing Mike Norvell this year.
2-6 (4-8)
Probably the biggest disappointment in the league. Year 1 of Bill Belichick was a bust.
2-6 (3-9)
Pretty bad all the way around but they may have won the coaching carousel this year.
1-7 (2-10)
Won the first game and the last game and pretty bad in between with some moral victories sprinkled in.
1-7 (3-9)
What I’ll remember are the performative post-game wind sprints and losing to Notre Dame 70-7.
If I told you before the season that the Hokies would be 2-4 after week 6, you would have thought the wheels had completely come off the wagon, and they have. Brent Pry was fired after Week 3. I don’t think even the biggest Pry haters would have predicted that. While the team looks more competitive under Phillip Montgomery, they look like they have a significant talent, experience and depth gap. I’m not sure that Virginia Tech will be favored in a single game the rest of the season.
Being realistic, I don’t think that the Hokies will go 0-6. More likely, they will win 1-2 games somewhere along the line. They don’t have the talent to beat Miami or Florida State on the road. But the other games should be winnable if they play their A or B+ game. We saw against NC State what it looks like when this team plays clean football. They look competitive. If they can play like that, they’ve got a chance in most of their remaining games. It’s a matter of the team and players staying locked in and wanting to compete.
Offensive MVP: Terion Stewart
301 rushing yards with a 8.6 yards per carry average. Give this guy the rock.
Defensive MVP: Kaleb Spencer
Leads the team in tackles and is always flying to the football. Also keep an eye on Noah Chambers who has only played in two games but has made a big impact in a small sample size.
Special Teams MVP: John Love
He is 12-of-14 on his field goals this year with a long of 56. This guy will be an NFL kicker next year.
The key for the next 6 games is to stay locked in and try to compete. Even though this is a lost season, players still want to put good film out there. You have seen in the past two weeks that there are young guys who are getting opportunities and taking advantage of them. Fans might think there is nothing to play for but for these players and coaches there is still a lot on the line. Players can get transfer opportunities or opportunities under a new coaching staff. Coaches are showing what they can put out on the field for their next gig. So while it feels bad for the fans, these guys are still out there trying. I don’t see a bowl game in their future, but I also don’t see an 0-6 finish. Somehow, they will find two wins along the way and finish 4-8. After the season, the reset button gets hit on every aspect of Virginia Tech football.
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
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.
At this point, I thought the Hokies would be 5-1. Instead they are 3-3. It’s a disappointment but their three losses have been in one-score games. Good teams win close games. Virginia Tech feels close to getting over the hump where they start winning those one-score games. The expect-to-lose mentality is still present in this program and that’s one of the toughest things to overcome when you are building a program.
Virginia Tech is good enough to win all of their remaining games. Will they? Probably not. But they’ve got a good chance in every remaining game including Clemson. The biggest thing they need to do is to play a full 60 minutes like they did against Miami and Stanford. If they can do that, they can play with anyone. It makes me wonder why it takes this coaching staff a full month before this team is ready to play 60 minutes. But that’s an issue for next year I guess.
Let’s gauge the remaining slate against preseason expectations.
Final 6 Game Record
Regular Season Record
Vs preseason expectations
2 wins or less
5-7 or worse
This would be a catastrophe and fans would call for heads to roll including the head coach’s.
3-3
6-6
This would match last year’s regular season win total and would be a big disappointment considering the returning starters and transfer additions in the offseason.
4-2
7-5
Still a bit of a disappointment but a slight improvement over last season’s regular season record.
5-1
8-4
Probably where most realistic fans would have set their expectations in the preseason. A 5-1 finish would make most VT fans feel good going into the offseason.
6-0
9-3
Exceed preseason expectations. A win over Clemson and a 6-0 finish with a chance at an ACCCG appearance.
Offensive MVP: Bhayshul Tuten
One of the national leaders in rushing yards and touchdowns. Hard to have a better first half than he has. Feed him the rock.
Defensive MVP: Antwaun Powell-Ryland
APR is ranked 4th in the nation with seven sacks on the season. Safe bet that he’ll get to double-digit sacks his year. It’s been a long time since someone did that in Blacksburg.
Special Teams MVP: John Love
He is 9-of-10 on his field goals this year and has connected twice from over 50 yards. Reminds me of the kickers that Tech had during the Beamer era.
If the Hokies continue to play the brand of football they’ve played in the last two weeks, the second half slate looks very manageable. The first two games are at home against teams that look beatable in Boston College and Georgia Tech. Next is the trip to Syracuse. That looks like a REALLY tough game to me. Syracuse is playing well and they have a very good QB. And Tech never wins up there unless they have Michael Vick at QB. Then it’s Clemson. I think it’s a winnable game but Tech needs to bring their A-game. Anything less and that game is a loss. Duke and Virginia both look better than expected but those are both games Tech should win. A 4-2 record seems likely but the Hokies shouldn’t overlook any of their remaining opponents. It feels like the Hokies are starting to hit their stride this season.
Virginia Tech got back to a bowl game after its worst season in 30 years. Things are trending in the right direction under Brent Pry.
Coaching Staff:
Brent Pry is entering his third season in Blacksburg. After a 3-win campaign in 2022, his team bounced back to win 7 games in year 2. Including going 6-3 down the stretch. It feels like Pry has the right coaches and players in place to have the program he envisioned when he arrived in Blacksburg.
Last season was a make-or-break year for Tyler Bowen. When Grant Wells suffered an ankle injury against Purdue, Bowen found lightning in a bottle in the form of Kyron Drones at quarterback. Having Drones solidify the QB position gave Bowen the opportunity to build out a run-heavy offense that fit his personnel.
Offense:
Kyron Drones is the straw that stirs the drink for this offense. The offense became more dynamic with him behind center. With Drones and Bhayshul Tuten at running back, it allowed the Hokies to establish a run-based offense that opened up the passing game. A heavy and consistent run game gave the Hokies deep-play threats room to operate downfield.
Once again, the Hokies should lean on a run-heavy attack. This fits best with their personnel. On an offense that includes Drones, Tuten and RB Malachi Thomas, you want to get the ball into your playmakers’ hands. This is also the best way to create space in the passing game for your wide receivers and tight ends.
The offense should benefit from having WR Ali Jennings back. He looked great in the ODU game and went out with a broken ankle against Purdue. Having him back along with WR Jaylin Lane, WR Da’Quan Felton and WR Stephen Gosnell should give Drones a lot of options in the passing game. Don’t forget TE Nick Gallo who should provide another nice downfield option for Drones.
The biggest concern on the offensive side of the ball is the offensive line. Particularly their ability to pass block. They had moments last year where they looked capable but they also had some pretty ugly moments too. For this offense to take another step forward, the offensive line has to prove they can protect Drones. This offense never looked at their best in passing situations last year.
Defense:
There were times last season where I had no idea what the safeties and linebackers were doing in the run game. They always seemed to be filling the wrong gap. It wasn’t a talent issue. It was an assignments issue. My hope is with another year under their belt they should be able to get it right more often that not this season.
Brent Pry has done a great job through the transfer portal of filling gaps on this defense. Bringing in Aeneas Peebles, Sam Brumfield and Kemari Copeland strengthens what was already a pretty strong group.
The strength of this group will be the defensive line. Antwuan Powell-Ryland is ready to have an all-conference year. Aeneas Peebles was already an all-conference player for Duke last season. Those two should wreak havoc on opposing offenses all season.
The Hokies have one of the best starting corner tandems in the ACC. Dorian Strong was one of the national leaders last season in PFF grades for cornerbacks with Mansoor Delane not too far behind him. If both can stay healthy, this should be a lockdown corner combo.
For this defense to take the next step, this group needs better contributions out of their safeties and linebackers. There were too many missed assignments last year leading to big plays. The addition of Sam Brumfield at mike linebacker will help a lot. So will the development of Jalen Stroman and Mose Phillips at the safety spots. Those guys are ready to take the next step forward.
Key Players to Watch
Quarterback Kyron Drones: Drones is a star and this team will go as far as Drones takes them. This was a completely different team last season with Drones under center.
Running Back Bhayshul Tuten: When was the last time that Tech had a chain mover like Tuten? David Wilson?
Defensive End Antwuan Powell-Ryland: APR came in with a lot of hype as a former 4-star recruit transferring in from Florida. He met and exceeded that hype. He’s a Daryl Tapp clone who likes to get after the quarterback.
Non-Conference Matchups:
Virginia Tech has a very manageable non-conference slate. Vanderbilt is one of the worst teams in the Power 4. Marshall is a solid team but one that Tech should handle at home. Old Dominion is close to their talent level from last season although Virginia Tech has yet to win in Norfolk after two appearances there. Rutgers is a rugged team under Greg Schiano but that game is at home this season. The team most likely to upset the Hokies from this slate is Rutgers.
ACC Outlook:
Virginia Tech is picked to finish 6th in the ACC preseason poll. That sounds about right to me. Virginia Tech is in the group right behind Clemson and Florida State who have a chance to get to Charlotte.
Conclusion:
Brent Pry looks well on his way to rebuilding Virginia Tech after 2 seasons at the helm. It finally feels like he has his coaches and players in place with a chance to make a run. This is the show-me year where he can prove that Virginia Tech can be a real contender for the ACC and a spot in the CFP.
Tough games (<40% chance to win)
Clemson and Miami. These both look like losses in the preseason. Both of these teams have more talent than the Hokies currently have.
Toss-up games (50-50 games)
Rutgers. Georgia Tech. Syracuse. These games are the difference between 10-2 and 7-5.
Should win games (>60% to win)
Vanderbilt. Marshall. Old Dominion. Stanford. Boston College. Duke. Virginia. The Hokies should make a bowl game on these games alone.
Key games for the Hokies: Clemson, Miami, Georgia Tech
Upset Alert: Georgia Tech
Game By Game Predictions
at Vanderbilt
Marshall
at Old Dominion
Rutgers
at Miami
at Stanford
Boston College
Georgia Tech
at Syracuse
Clemson
at Duke
Virginia
Virginia Tech Game by Game Predictions
Final Regular Season Record: 9-3 (5-3 in the ACC) Expected finish: 4th in the ACC
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.
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.
Virginia Tech is hoping to bounce back from its worst season in 30 years. 3 win seasons are rare in Blacksburg and Brent Pry is hoping to get bowl eligible after a challenging first season.
Coaching Staff:
Brent Pry enters his second season in Blacksburg. Pry struggled in his first season after inheriting a roster with many departures from the previous coaching staff. This season Tyler Bowen will be running the offense as the one-and-only offensive coordinator. Last season, he split the role with Brad Glenn who has since moved on to Cincinnati. This season will hinge on Bowen’s ability get more out of the offense than last season. He will need to be more creative and install an offense that makes sense with the personnel he has.
Offense:
The Hokies’ offense struggled last season leading to historically bad results. Tech had trouble run blocking and receivers had a tough time getting open. That along with an injury to Malachi Thomas led to an offense that couldn’t move the ball consistently.
The good news for this season is that Tech loaded up on capable offensive threats through the transfer portal. The coaching staff brought in Ali Jennings from ODU, Jaylin Lane from Middle Tennessee State and Bhayshul Tuten from North Carolina A&T. All these players have shown explosive abilities at their previous stops. These additions should add some explosive targets for Grant Wells in the passing game and another threat in the running game.
Grant Wells is a capable quarterback. Last year’s performance had a lot to do with a line that couldn’t block and receivers who couldn’t get open. Not to mention an injury to his number one running back. Few quarterbacks would perform well under those conditions. Even with that, he graded out as an average quarterback in the ACC. With more help this season, you should see those numbers improve. His most important task is cutting down on turnovers. Even with Wells in a game manager role, this offense can be successful.
The biggest area to watch for is the play of the offensive line. How do they respond to new coach Ron Crooks? Can he turn them into a productive group? Or does it look like last year’s group that struggled to run and pass block most of the season? My guess is that Crooks’ scheme will fit better with what Bowen is trying to do on offense.
Defense:
Brent Pry’s specialty is defense and we should see more out of that group compared to last season. Since Pry arrived he has prioritized size and speed on the defense. This group is slowly getting more athletic than the group Pry inherited from the previous coaching staff. Pry’s staff has made that a focus in recruiting and in the transfer portal.
The Hokies’ secondary will once again be the strength of the defense with Mansoor Delane and Dorian Strong starting at cornerback. The defense’s ability to create turnovers and limit big plays will be pivotal to the team’s success. The Hokies ranked 129th out of 131 teams in generating turnovers last season. That must change this season in order to improve on last year’s 3-win season.
The biggest question marks for this defense are at defensive end and linebacker. If Brent Pry can find a couple of young guys to step up at those positions this should be a pretty solid group. If not, this could be an average defense like last year’s.
Key Players to Watch:
Quarterback Grant Wells: Wells had a 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio last season. That has to improve for Tech’s offense to be a threat in 2023.
Running Back Malachi Thomas: This offense needs a consistent chain-mover in short yardage. In order for the offense to come around, we need to see Thomas return to his 2021 form.
Defensive Back Mansoor Delane: One of the top cornerbacks in the ACC entering 2023. He needs to back up the hype as a lockdown corner for this defense and become a ballhawk who can turn the ball over to the offense when it comes his way.
Non-Conference Matchups:
Virginia Tech has a manageable non-conference slate. They need a win against Old Dominion in the worst way. This staff cannot afford another loss to an in-state Group of 5 program. There are good opportunities for Power 5 wins against Purdue at home and Rutgers on the road. And finally, don’t overlook that road game against Marshall. Marshall won 9 games last season and will be far from a pushover this season.
ACC Outlook:
After the media picked the Hokies to finish 11th in the ACC preseason poll, the Hokies will have their work cut out for them. If the Hokies can build on the progress they made on defense last season, they should be able to outperform these expectations.
Conclusion:
When Brent Pry took the position of head coach, this job was always going to be a multi-year rebuild. The cupboards were pretty bare when he got here. After bottoming out with a 3-win season, it looks like the outlook is brighter but it is going to be a year-by-year process. The goal for this season should be six wins and a bowl game. Anything more than that is gravy.
Tough games (<40% chance to win)
Pitt. Florida State. Syracuse. Louisville. NC State. The goal here is to try to steal one or two of these games. They are winnable but tougher than the rest.
Toss-up games (50-50 games)
Purdue. Rutgers. Marshall. Wake Forest. Boston College. Virginia. These games will be the difference between 8-4 and 4-8. VT must win at least three of these.
Should win games (>60% to win)
Old Dominion. Tech can’t afford to stub their toe again here especially not at home.
Key games for the Hokies: Wake Forest, Boston College, Virginia.
Upset Alert: at Marshall
Game By Game Predictions
Old Dominion
Purdue
at Rutgers
at Marshall
Pitt
at Florida State
Wake Forest
Syracuse
at Louisville
at Boston College
NC State
at Virginia
Virginia Tech Game by Game Predictions
Final Regular Season Record: 6-6 (4-4 in the ACC) Expected finish: 7th in the ACC
This week we have a guest contributor @DriftVT from Twitter writing this week’s preview.
Before we get into the preview, please consider giving to a GoFundMe to support the families affected by the shooting in Charlottesville this week: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/uva-shooting-help
After back-to-back collapses against NC State and Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech was completely outmatched by the Duke Blue Devils this past weekend. A game that left most Virginia Tech fans feeling demoralized. It was a tough game to watch, as Virginia Tech took the lead to start the game, and failed to score again. Losing even against the spread which was 9.5 in favor of Duke.
Moving forward to this week, Virginia Tech is playing the best program in the state of Virginia, in Liberty. Hugh Freeze has built a winning G5 program, and he was recently signed to an extension keeping him at Liberty for years to come. Until the SEC gives him a ring.
SP+ Rankings
Virginia Tech
Overall: 98th Offense: 123rd Defense: 48th Special Teams: 82nd
Liberty
Overall: 73rd Offense: 81st Defense: 49th Special Teams: 87th
In order for Virginia Tech to contain this Liberty offense, they will need to slow down Demario Douglas. From Jacksonville, FL, Demario has 830 yards this season on 56 catches, which is already a season high for him. He is a shifty mismatch nightmare for defenses to contain and it begs the question, who will Virginia Tech put on him? Usually in this scenario, Chamari Conner or DJ Harvey will cover the slot in man coverage. I’d expect to see more zone this week as I do not believe the staff will be comfortable playing man coverage against him all game.Â
On the offensive side of the ball, the Hokies still look completely lost. Everything looks difficult and forced. At least we have been able to snap the ball without false starting every play, which has been about the only improvement. In terms of what works; well, nothing really, outside of throwing the ball downfield to Kaleb Smith. Virginia Tech will have to do whatever they can to score at least 20 points to keep this game within reach. And they’ll need the defense to gift them a turnover as well.Â
There are quite a few fans calling for Tyler Bowen to be fired, and while I am completely uninspired by his performance this season, I don’t think he will be let go. I think Pry would like to keep the same staff heading into next season, hoping to learn and grow as a unit. While a new OC could help, I think it might be too soon to cut the cord.Â
Up until after the Georgia Tech game, I had said on Twitter just how far one of these games would help recruiting in Virginia if Pry could squeak one or two out. We thought we had it with Miami, then NC State, and then Georgia Tech. If we get blown out this weekend, it will seriously damage the moral of the fanbase and all the buzz around the program. I really think a win here, while unlikely, could go a very long way in repairing some of the damage done by previous staff. Remember, it is a revenge game for the Hokies.Â
treadmillhorse 
