Virginia Tech is 4-0 for the first time since 2017 and set for its biggest home game in years as 4-0 Pittsburgh comes to Lane Stadium. Tonight has a chance to be a statement that the rebuild is already complete in Blacksburg for James Franklin while both programs will look to make clear that they are a top contender to reach the ACC Championship.
With kickoff just hours away, let’s get you ready for today’s matchup between Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh.
Keys to the Game: You can check out Josh Poslusny’s keys to the game and preview here. Statistically, Virginia Tech has gone from having one of the worst pass rushes in the Power 4 to one of the best this season with 17 sacks to date. However, Pitt has a veteran offensive line that will provide a stern test for Cortez Harris, Aycen Stevens, and company. Harris and Stevens have a combined 9.5 sacks so far and are definitely not flying under the radar any longer. VT will need both to keep up their strong play and give Pitt QB Mason Heintschel if they want to avoid this game becoming a shootout, though VT has the passing offense to win a shootout led by Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Hokie to Watch: Quentin Reddish has been under pressure with DQ Smith pushing for his job as the South Carolina transfer gets more time in the program to learn the defense. However, the junior safety bounced back from a disappointing game for him and the pass defense at Maryland with an impressive display at Boston College with three pass breakups. This game will present a tough matchup for him and the Hokies’ pass defense against a very good Pitt QB in Mason Heintschel. VT is going to need to limit Heintschel through the air and can’t afford to have the coverage busts that they had versus Maryland, something that happened mostly in the first half and disappeared in the second half when DQ Smith played in Reddish’s place. None of Tech’s primary three safeties have as high of a ceiling as Reddish and if he can deliver what he did against BC, that could be the difference VT needs.
Virginia Tech X-Factor: Que’Sean Brown has lived up to the hype as a wide receiver so far this season with 26 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown. He’s arguably been better as a punt returner with eight returns for 204 yards including two returns that have set up first and goal situations. He made a huge difference last week with five returns for 89 yards and no muffs in a Nor’Easter at BC and could be the ultimate x-factor this week. You can check out Josh Poslusny’s feature on Brown here.
Injury Update: Starting WR Ayden Greene will be back tonight after missing the BC game due to injury while starting RG Montavious Cunningham and backup guard Brody Meadows are both probable as of Thursday night. Backup WR Luke Stuewe is also probable after being questionable last week. Meanwhile, starting LT Justin Terry is officially out this week and will be out for at least several weeks.
Press Conference Notebook: Check out Josh Poslusny’s Monday James Franklin and Virginia Tech press conference notebook here. This includes some insights from Franklin and players on Pittsburgh, some self-reflection from Franklin on VT being too conservative last week, and much more.
Tim Thomas
Pick: Virginia Tech 34, Pittsburgh 31
Adam Firebaugh
This week's matchup with Pitt, though, will be a different beast.
The teams are essentially dead even in terms of SP+ ratings, making this a classic coin toss pick. In those instances, I think home-field advantage is the decisive factor, especially for a fanbase as deprived of big games as Virginia Tech's has been over the last decade.
Pick: Virginia Tech 27, Pittsburgh 21
Josh Poslusny
The Hokies are looking to move to 5-0 for the first time since 2005. Virginia Tech and Pitt are evenly matched by record, resume and advanced metrics, and Vegas seems to agree, favoring the Hokies by just 2.5 points.
Mason Heintschel and Ethan Grunkemeyer will both play crucial roles, but I don't think either quarterback will ultimately decide this game. Instead, I think the difference will be Lane Stadium.
This is the biggest game in Blacksburg since Virginia Tech hosted No. 2 Clemson in 2017. Hokie fans have been waiting years for another game with this kind of significance, and Lane Stadium should be as loud as it has been in a long time.
That's particularly important against a Pitt team that has been among the most penalized teams in the country. Playing in that environment should only make communication more difficult and create more opportunities for drive-killing mistakes.
I expect a close game for most of the afternoon, but Virginia Tech should be able to capitalize on Pitt's mistakes and eventually create some separation late.
