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It’s looking like a season where the upcoming game is the most important game of the season. If you had to pick a really obvious one out of the stack, the Pitt game runs right to the top of the flagpole. Let’s look at some team news, a few updates here and there, and then get to the predictions.

It’s not Homecoming, but It is Stripe Lane Night

The program has fan gimmicks for most games this season, and it’s a night where certain sections wear orange, and others wear maroon. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it sort of looks like more than half the people didn’t care or didn’t know.

Just a Reminder that the Team in Maroon Earned Its Way

Last Saturday in a New England coastal Nor’easter, the Hokies earned their respect the hard way, by fighting BC and the weather to catch, pass, and then burn out the clock before they had a chance to respond.

Jeffrey Overton, Jr. Gets Some Kudos

He gets named ACC Running Back of the Week for his powerful performance in the rain and wind of Alumni Stadium.

PFF picks out Overton but also adds Quentin Reddish and Jaquez White for their National Team of the Week notice.

Catch Up with Coach Franklin’s Weekly Presser

This is nearly a 51-minute watch so go grab a coffee. Lots of good information in this one.

Predictions Time

Bryan Manning

Huge game for the Hokies. This game means a lot for several reasons. A chance to go 5-0, a chance to go 2-0 in the ACC, a chance to re-establish Lane Stadium as a place that visiting teams dread coming to play. Pitt is a tough challenge. Under Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers always play a tough brand of football. They generally play solid defense and rely on the running game. They now have a quarterback who can air it out. Pitt’s strengths and Virginia Tech’s potential weaknesses match up well for the Panthers. The Hokies have allowed some big plays through the air this year, so Pitt will test that. I have concerns about Pitt’s run defense. The Hokies have had some issues at times this year and are dealing with multiple injuries along the offensive line. That’s something to watch.

I do think the Hokies will make some plays in the running game. More Jeffrey Overton, please. Luke Reynolds had a down game last week, due to the weather more than anything, but I expect a big bounce-back this week. Reynolds catches another touchdown and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer is the better quarterback on the field again this week. It’s close, but the Hokies win.

Virginia Tech 27, Pitt 21

John Schneider

Tough games require some tough thinking. This one is essentially a toss-up, and regardless of these two teams’ records they always seem to be a fist fight street brawl. This season neither team is ranked, but neither is showing up at Lane Stadium with a loss on their record.

Tech is rallying up behind a completely revamped and very different offense than we have seen since the Michael Brewer days at the end of the Beamer Era. This Tech team has an actual quarterback, uses its tight ends and gets downfield with intermediate distance pass plays.

The defensive style isn’t much different than has been fielded in the past, but the line is bigger and a bit faster than we are used to. It still has problems with running quarterbacks, and the secondary has just not stiffened yet. That’s a concern for this one because Nardo has found a good quarterback, too, and as we saw in the recent past when he has a good quarterback his teams go from wobbly to competitive.

To win this Tech has to drive and score on nearly every possession. The defense needs to get fast “A” gap pressure on Pitt’s QB, and the secondary needs to stiffen up considerably. It’s also going to need to avoid any “prevent” situations since Pitt can score fast if it needs to.

Add all that stuff up, and this one is going to be one of two things. A runaway with one team dominating over the other with fast offensive and heavy defensive pressure, or both teams are going to force a tough close contest. I am thinking the latter is more likely, I still have pictures in the library of the 4th quarter 4th and Goal for Pitt at the Tech 2. This stacks up to be, in my mind anyway, a similar contest. I think Tech takes it, but it’s going to be close, a 3- or 4-point difference. Both teams are probably good for scores in the mid- to high- twenties. The team that breaks 30 wins.

31 – 24 Hokies

Just a Reminder About Friday Evening

If you are coming to the game, check your seat against the chart, and wear the appropriate color. We’ll be on the field, cameras going, stay with us for pictures on the Facebook page Saturday evening.

GO HOKIES!!!!

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