Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech athletics
The Virginia Tech Hokies are coming off an extremely underwhelming season at 5-6 in 2020.
While the Hokies do lose a good chunk of production from this past season, they also return a good amount with pretty much everyone offensively coming back minus star running back Khalil Herbert.
Virginia Tech also has had a rather strong offseason in the transfer portal, bringing in Jordan Williams from Clemson, and Tae Daley from Vanderbilt to highlight a couple. Aside from tackles Doug Nestor and Bryan Hudson, Virginia Tech really didn’t lose anyone else that would’ve played significantly in 2021 to the transfer portal these past couple of weeks.
Now, it’s VERY early, and so much can change from now until the Hokies’ opener on either Sept. 2 or 3. But for everyone’s entertainment, how about some “way too early predictions” for the 2021 season — a season where the seat will be hot for head coach Justin Fuente?
We already gave you our predictions for the first six games of Virginia Tech’s schedule. But it’s time to pick it up with Syracuse in Part II of our two-part series, where we currently have the Hokies at 3-3.
Week 8: Syracuse (Oct. 23)
Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
The Hokies catch a break with the rotation of cross-division opponents falling on Syracuse this year.
The Orange are bad – like really bad. It’s a mystery how they beat Clemson and were 10-3 just a couple of seasons ago. Not only are they bad, they lose a good chunk too, and they lose it at their strong spots. Ifeatu Melifonwu is off to the NFL, and Syracuse’s secondary, along with a lot of its defense, is now gone. Virginia Tech will take advantage of those deficiencies and pick up a much-needed win at this point in the season.
The Pick: Virginia Tech
Overall Record: 4-3
Week 9: Georgia Tech (Oct. 30)
Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
What a fun match-up we have here between the Hokies and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
The two ACC Coastal foes actually did not play each other in 2020. The revised schedule due to COVID-19 left the Yellow Jackets off Virginia Tech’s schedule. It would’ve been nice for Fuente and company to get the ‘Ramblin Wreck while they’re still finding their identity under Geoff Collins. Now in Year 3, Collins seems to have the program headed in the right direction.
Now let’s not forget, this wasn’t just a rebuild. This was a complete retooling personnel-wise by Collins and his staff after converting the Jackets from the triple option to your more standard spread offense. He may need one more year before it’s really his program in Atlanta.
Quarterback Jeff Sims is a great starting point, but the Hokies have always had success at Bobby Dodd, and that’ll continue for at least another year. Score a big road win for Virginia Tech in Atlanta.
The Pick: Virginia Tech
Overall Record: 5-3
Week 10: Boston College (Nov. 5)
Location: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
The Boston College Eagles are going to be a force in 2021.
Second-year head coach Jeff Hafley has been selling the “Get In” movement right outside of Boston, and it’s been working well so far.
The Hokies and BC have traded results back and forth the last couple of seasons, with Virginia Tech dominating the Eagles last year in Blacksburg, 40-14. Boston College returns star quarterback Phil Jurkovec, and we’re going to say he’ll have a big game in this one.
No one is talking about Boston College, but it’ll pick off some teams, including the Hokies at home on a Friday night in New England.
The Pick: Boston College
Overall Record: 5-4
Week 11: Duke (Nov. 13)
Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
In what is Virginia Tech’s only home game in the final five contests of the season, the Hokies will welcome in another ACC bottom feeder in the Duke Blue Devils.
There’s not much to be said in this one. Virginia Tech won’t have any trouble with this team with unlimited question marks – or shouldn’t at least. For a start, Duke is lost at quarterback. Chase Brice was as poor performance-wise as it gets last year, but even he moved on to Appalachian State.
This game really shouldn’t be that competitive. The Blue Devils may scratch out a couple games early on, but at this point in the season, it’s the Hokies’ for the taking. They’ll avenge a 45-10 loss from the last time these two schools met at Lane Stadium, and start a new bowl streak as they reach six wins.
The Pick: Virginia Tech
Overall Record: 6-4
Week 12: Miami (Nov. 20)
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
The Hokies will be greeted with a warm ending to November as they travel down to Miami to face a Hurricanes team they should’ve beaten last year in Blacksburg before falling, 25-24.
Virginia Tech will be anxious to get down there and win that one, but there’s just one problem – D’Eriq King is back. The Houston transfer decided to use his extra year of eligibility, and returns to a Miami team searching for just its second ACC Coastal division crown.
We’re using the same logic we used for Kenny Pickett at Pittsburgh — an experienced quarterback leads to more wins. King will have a better go-round this year against the Hokies and get the win in South Beach.
The Pick: Miami
Overall Record: 6-5
Week 13: Virginia (Nov. 27)
Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA
The one the whole Commonwealth is waiting for concludes the Hokies’ regular season. Virginia and Virginia Tech battle for the coveted Commonwealth Cup at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
Rivalries are always fun, but it hasn’t been so fun historically for the Virginia Cavaliers. The Hokies have won 16 of the last 17 meetings in the series, and 20 of the last 22. It’s been utter dominance on Virginia Tech’s side. Virginia Tech would’ve beaten the ‘Hoos 17 straight years if it hadn’t been for a man named Bryce Perkins.
That loss two years ago at Scott Stadium fuels these Hokie players, and plus, how can you pick Virginia in this game historically? The Hokies retain the Commonwealth Cup after getting to Brennan Armstrong all game long, and finish the regular season 7-5 with a nice cap to a decent 2021.
The Pick: Virginia Tech
Overall Record: 7-5
Season Prediction
Final Record: 7-5
ACC Record: 4-4 (4th in ACC Coastal)
Projected ACC Coastal Final Standings:
- North Carolina
- Miami
- Pittsburgh
- Virginia Tech
- Virginia
- Georgia Tech
- Duke
Bowl Game: Sun Bowl
