Photo Credit: Harley Taylor
Emotions will be high inside Lane Stadium as Virginia Tech celebrates the career of Bud Foster. However, the competition will also be high as the Hokies face a No. 19 Wake Forest looking to pick up another victory ahead of next week's major showdown with Clemson in Death Valley.
Will the improving Hokies rally for Bud Foster and pick up their first home victory over a top 25 team since 2009 victories over Nebraska and Miami, or will Wake Forest pick up a quality road victory before heading to Clemson? Here's our picks for today's game along with all our pregame coverage.
- Key Matchups (By Grant Atkinson)
- Opposing 5 With Robert Reinhard
- Virginia Tech Looks For Armani Chatman to Step Up (By Grant Atkinson)
- VT Uniforms For Wake Forest Game (By Tim Thomas)
Tim Thomas
The last time Virginia Tech and Wake Forest played, the 2 teams combined for 0 points in regulation. This time, expect lots of offense and lots of points.
Both of these teams are stronger offensively especially a Wake Forest team led by Jamie Newman who has emerged as one of the best QBs on the East Coast. Meanwhile, the Hokies' offense has come alive with Hendon Hooker at the helm with indications trending towards him playing today.
Both defenses have had their ups and downs giving up lots of yards, but Virginia Tech's defense has shown improvement starting to bend and not break more often. However, Wake Forest's offense is the best that VT has faced all season and will provide a tough defense that has star cornerback Caleb Farley not at 100 and fellow starting CB Jermaine Waller suspended for a half.
On paper, Wake Forest is the better team and based on talent, is the team to beat in a close game. However, while Bud Foster has dodged talk that this game is about him, there is no doubt that there will be a little extra motivation to send Foster out right and get him a win on the day celebrating his career. Additionally, the Hokies definitely know about the fact that they haven't won a home game over a ranked team this decade and will likely have a little extra motivation from that.
Wake Forest is the better team, but the gap between the Demon Deacons and the Hokies has shrunk immensely. Combine that with the Hokies' extra motivation on Bud Foster day and playing at home, and Virginia Tech will beat a ranked team at home for the first time since 2009.
Pick: Virginia Tech 31, No. 19 Wake Forest 27
Grant Atkinson
Virginia Tech is coming down the home stretch of the 2019 season. The ACC Coastal Division is still very much in reach, and it starts with a cross-divisional matchup with Wake Forest.
Demon Deacons quarterback Jamie Newman has been unbelievable so far this season. He ranks third in the conference in total QBR, and he can also make plays with his legs.
Wake Forest also has two elite receivers in Sage Surratt and Scotty Washington. They could present a problem for a Virginia Tech secondary that will be missing Jermaine Waller for the first half.
If quarterback Hendon Hooker is able to go for the Hokies, this game could turn into somewhat of a shootout. In the end, though, Wake Forest’s offense is going to be too much for Virginia Tech to handle.
