The first home game of the Brent Pry era has arrived with Virginia Tech hoping that this game goes much better than last week's opener against Old Dominion. Meanwhile, Boston College is looking to bounce back and spoil Pry's opener after they suffered an opening loss last week against Rutgers.
So who will win this battle of ACC opponents? Here's our picks for the Hokies and Eagles.
Tim Thomas
Offensive line issues for Boston College, passing game struggles for Virginia Tech, and rainy weather conditions make this game built to be a low-scoring battle this evening in Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech's defense was strong last week while Boston College's also had a solid week even as the Eagles' offense struggled.
The weather is the biggest wild card as forecasts suggests rain throughout but how heavy it is remains unknown while some forecasts suggest that it could be more sporadic at times. If so, that may favor Boston College in some ways allowing them to open it up more even with their offensive line's pass blocking struggles. If not, advantage Hokies with the stronger rushing attack against a BC rush defense that didn't have a great start last week.
In the end, I think the rain favors the Hokies and a Keshawn King led attack compared to BC who would love to let Phil Jurkovec get it to Zay Flowers regularly though having Dorian Strong should also help Tech. Combine that with Tech's defense looking quite good regardless of competition last week and I think the Hokies win this one but if you're in a state that allows betting on this game, I wouldn't touch it at all unless it's the under.
Pick: Virginia Tech 16, Boston College 13
Carter Hill
Despite a season-opening disaster that occurred just a tad bit over a week ago within the confines of the 757 in a loss to Old Dominion, Virginia Tech actually has a really solid opportunity to bounce back in tonight’s contest against Boston College.
Throw in Brent Pry’s home debut and even it being a night game inside Lane Stadium out the window for just a second, and just look at the matchup specifically.
The Eagles do possess two star-studded playmakers in the form of quarterback Phil Jurkovec and receiver Zay Flowers. But beyond that, there’s not really much else.
Vastly a two-man show, Boston College has an inexperienced offensive line, a brand new tight ends room and a practically nonexistent run game. Though starting tailback Pat Garwo III rushed for over 1,000 yards a season ago, the Eagles ran for just 29 yards on a whopping 28 carries in last week’s heartbreaking loss to Rutgers. So to say the backfield is a concern for Jeff Hafley’s club, certainly is a fair statement.
Because of BC’s major offensive line issues, and Tech’s strong defensive front, the maroon and orange are going to hold the clear-cut advantage when it comes to that side of the ball.
And although the Eagles have the talent defensively to stifle an unproven Hokies’ offense, the matchup problem between both fronts will be just too much for the boys from Chestnut Hill to overcome.
Virginia Tech will get after Jurkovec all evening long, riding that to Brent Pry’s first victory as a head coach inside a drizzly Lane Stadium to kick off ACC play.
Pick: Virginia Tech 24, Boston College 17
Ryan Duvall
After a disappointing start to the season, in which they lost 17-20 to the Old Dominion
Monarchs, the Virginia Tech Hokies will venture back home to Lane Stadium for the
first time in the Brent Pry era. This week, the Hokies will be taking on ACC opponent
Boston College (0-1), who are also coming off a week one defeat (to a power five
opponent at least).
The home-opener for Tech may also feature the return of big-time contributors in
running back’s Malachi Thomas and Jalen Holston. With those two potentially on their way back, and junior Keshawn King putting up a stellar performance last week, the Hokies should be running the ball all over the Eagles (who gave up 212 rushing yards last week). The game will ultimately come down to the Virginia Tech defense and its ability to slow down BC quarterback, Phil Jurokvec.
Pick: Virginia Tech 24, Boston College 20
Peyton Seay
My confidence is starting off low in the Hokies’ offense after their miserable showing against the Monarchs opening week. However, Boston College was horrible against the run last season (92nd in rushing yards allowed), and they were just gashed on the ground last week by a run-first Rutgers offense for 212 yards. Malachi Thomas is a game day decision for the Hokies, but Keshawn King ran for 111 yards (5.8 yards/rush) against ODU, so I expect him to be able to have success tonight after Thomas and Raheem Blackshear ran for 137 combined yards against the Eagles last year.
One thing that worries me headed into tonight is the returning starters for the Eagles. They have QB Phil Jurkovec back, RB Pat Garwo III, and WR Zay Flowers. The three Eagles are a talented group of players, especially Garwo III who torched the Hokies defense (91st in rushing yards allowed in 2021) last season on 30 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown. The Hokies should have success at bringing pressure on Jurkovec though, and possibly stopping Garwo III. The Eagles showed they have a young rebuilding offensive line this season in their first game of 2022 as Garwo III (1.8 yards/rush) struggled to get anything going. The Eagles had to take it to the air where Jurkovec and Flowers (10 rec., 117 yards, 2 TDs) had quite the connection.
I believe an electric Lane Stadium crowd will help the Hokie defense be ready and amped up to stop the Eagles tonight. Expect a grind it out ground game for the Hokies and a defense that will force Jurkovec and the Eagles’ offense to be in obvious passing downs that the Hokies can take advantage of. If this game was in Boston and not a night game in Blacksburg, the score could easily be flipped for me, but Brent Pry wins his first game in Lane.
