Virginia Tech's difficult second half of their season begins with the first of four currently ranked opponents in No. 13 Georgia Tech. The Hokies are hoping to pull a shocking upset while the Yellow Jackets are looking to take care of business knowing their margin for error is thin for their hopes of reaching both the ACC Championship and the College Football Playoff.
So with that said, let’s get you ready for this showdown between Virginia Tech and No. 13 Georgia Tech.
Keys to the Game: You can check out Chris Payne’s keys to the game here. One of Chris’ keys for the Hokies’ offense is to actually turn red zone trips into touchdown drives. John Love has been among the best kickers in college football this year, but you want Love kicking extra points and not field goals. VT has seen too many red zone trips end with field goals instead of touchdowns and if they want to pull off the upset, that has to change.
Hokies to Watch: You can check out Josh Poslusny’s Hokies to Watch feature here. Kaleb Spencer has been quite impressive over the past couple weeks, but will need to keep his high level play against a three-headed monster for Georgia Tech on the ground with Haynes King, Jamal Haynes, and Malachi Hosley. Spencer will need to be sharp as a linebacker because if he is in the wrong spot, the Yellow Jackets will ensure that Spencer’s athleticism isn’t enough to overcome that.
Virginia Tech X-Factor: With a litany of wide receivers out behind the top two of Ayden Greene and Donavon Greene, Isaiah Spencer has a big opportunity to step up and show he should be a starter even after Cameron Seldon returns. Spencer has had his moments this season, but this game will likely provide plenty of opportunities for Tech’s outside playmakers to go make things happen in pursuit of an upset.
Matchups to Watch: Georgia Tech has a strong WR room that will face off against a depleted VT secondary that will be without four DBs who were in the two-deep to start the season in Quentin Reddish, Christian Ellis, Caleb Brown, and Dante Lovett. That’s a lot of talent to lose and while true freshmen like Jojo Crim and Sheldon Robinson have shown lots of promise, the trio of Malik Rutherford, Eric Rivers, and Isiah Canion is a difficult group to matchup against. Now GT doesn’t need their passing game to win this one, but I bet the Yellow Jackets would love to allow Haynes King to lean on his arm more than his legs against a struggling VT to limit his wear and tear.
Availability Watch: The Hokies will be without a few starters and productive pieces but Caleb Woodson may play for the first time since Brent Pry’s dismissal while Terion Stewart remains questionable. Check out the full availability report here.
Predictions
Tim Thomas
If Virginia Tech is going to pull off this upset, they are going to have to force Haynes King to beat them through the air. While the Yellow Jackets have the type of veteran QB and talented WR corps to do just that, this Yellow Jackets team's identity is built on their three-headed ground attack led by King himself. If Tech can force King to beat them with his arm, they'll give themselves a chance at the upset.
Tech also has to finish off their drives and establish their rushing attack early and often. Whether Terion Stewart is able to go or not, VT has to be ready to be run-first to get Kyron Drones into the rhythm of the game and allow their strong RB room to make things happen led by Stewart and Marcellous Hawkins.
At the end of the day, I think Georgia Tech is simply a way better team and program, and that will show as the Yellow Jackets cruise to an easy victory over the Hokies.
Pick: No. 13 Georgia Tech 38, Virginia Tech 16
Chris Payne
Despite the letdown against Wake Forest last weekend, the Hokies have a great opportunity to go into their open week with some momentum and to get back within one win of .500 on the season. I think Virginia Tech has looked much improved under Philip Montgomery in several areas, but the one area I haven't seen improvement in is offensive consistency.
Everything, and I mean everything, has to go the Hokies way on Saturday for them to win this game. They can't turn the ball over, they can't commit avoidable penalties, they have to find the endzone consistently, they have to move the ball in both phases with authority. Most importantly, they have to play with attitude. We saw this against NC State but failed to see it against Wake Forest. They will be walking into a hostile environment, much like Raleigh, and will need to play with poise.
I do think the Hokies lose, but as long as they play with fervor and discipline, I can't be too upset. However, in the end I do think the experience of Georgia Tech's offense will get the best of Virginia Tech's youthful and depleted defense.
