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Virginia at Virginia Tech Football Preview and Pick

The Commonwealth Cup is on the line as the ACC Coastal champion Virginia Tech Hokies take on the Virginia Cavaliers in what is a huge mismatch on paper with the Hokies being 8-3 and Coastal champs while facing a 2-9 Virginia team with only one ACC win and a loss to FCS Richmond to start the season. Despite the huge mismatch, rivalry games always seem to find a way to be much closer than you expect, and this game has the potential to be that or be a dominant performance from the Hokies. Virginia enters this game looking to take something away and avoid losing their 13th-straight to the Hokies while a win for Virginia Tech will keep the Commonwealth Cup in Blacksburg and get them back into the top 25 ahead of next Saturday's ACC Championship game against Clemson. With that said, here are our picks for the Hokies and Cavaliers.

Dwight Lester

Well folks, North Carolina State did us a huge favor yesterday in their rivalry game. UNC's defeat means the Hokies come into the Commonwealth Cup as ACC Coastal division champs. However, there is plenty to play for against a struggling UVA team. For instance, a Hokie win would insure the Commonwealth Cup would reside in Blacksburg for one more year. Also, it would make recruiting easier inside the state. The Hokies are better in every aspect of the game on paper. The offense is better, the defense is vastly better. By all rights, the Hokies should destroy the Cavaliers but in a rivalry game, throw that all out the window. This is a game about state pride. Records mean nothing, talent means less, and just shear determination and will conquers all. The Hokies will be the more determined team, especially on senior day. Look for seniors Woody Baron and Chuck Clark to lead the defense to a dominate performance. The human Swiss Army knife Sam Rogers will lead the offense. The Hokies rout the Cavs 45-17. LETS GO HOKIES!!!!!

Pick: Virginia Tech 45, Virginia 17

Henry Skutt

This game may have lost a little luster after the UNC loss guaranteed a Coastal championship for the Hokies, but it's senior day, Rivalry Week, and a chance to beat UVA for the 13th year in a row. There is still a lot to play for, and I think Fuente will make sure the players know that. This rivalry has been decided by one score for a couple years in a row now, but I think the Hokies open up the margin just a bit this year. I expect them to start slow, but still take a lead into halftime because of the talent discrepancy. After making adjustments, I expect this Hokies/ team to easily win the 2nd half and pull away. These seniors deserve to be sent out on a high note from Lane Stadium after all the struggles that they have had in this stadium, and I think the Hokies get that done today.

Pick: Virginia Tech 30, Virginia 7

Tim Thomas

The Virginia Tech Hokies are headed back to the ACC Championship for the first time since 2011 thanks to North Carolina's loss to N.C. State yesterday but don't think the Hokies won't be motivated in today's Commonwealth Cup showdown with a 2-9 Virginia that will be desperate to try to salvage something from their first season under Bronco Mendenhall. On paper, this matchup isn't even close as the Hokies are clearly the more talented and are better on both offense and defense with Virginia being pedestrian to below average at best on offense and defense. However, rivalry games always find ways to be closer than expected and the Commonwealth Cup has been close for the past few years with both teams trying to get to a bowl game in some cases. The difference this year is that the gap between the Hokies and Cavaliers is bigger than it has been since before the Hokies' drought of ACC Coastal titles started. Today, the Hokies will be ready for this game and after a few closer than expected games including the upset loss to Georgia Tech, they'll be ready to make a statement before next Saturday's ACC Championship. Records will fall today as Jerod Evans will have a big game to officially break the single-season passing touchdowns record while Isaiah Ford will have the best game of his season taking advantage of inexperience at cornerback and having some big plays to break Jarrett Boykin's career receiving yards record. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech's defense will put in a dominant performance led by Woody Baron who has earned himself a spot on the All-ACC First Team with what has been one of the best seasons from a Virginia Tech defensive lineman in recent memory. The Hokies are the better team and after years of close games, the Hokies will make a statement and blow out Virginia ahead of next Saturday's showdown in Orlando with Clemson.

Pick: Virginia Tech 38, Virginia 14

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