After a much-needed second bye week, the Virginia Tech football team will return to action this weekend with a game at Duke, aiming to secure bowl eligibility. Despite the team’s ongoing injury issues, which continue to pile up, the Hokies are gearing up for the primetime matchup in Durham, N.C. Here are three bold predictions for Saturday night’s game:
Collin Schlee steps in and plays well
Kyron Drones is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game, with reports indicating that he’s been going back and forth between the trainer’s room and practice. Based on Brent Pry’s update Wednesday night, it doesn’t seem likely that Drones will be available.
If Drones can’t go, Collin Schlee, who was injured during the game against Syracuse on November 2, has shown improvement in practice this week. He took QB1 snaps on Wednesday, with Pop Watson stepping in as QB2. Schlee performed well enough to lead the Hokies to a victory over Syracuse earlier this month and is more than capable of leading the offense on the road. If Schlee plays, expect him to have a big game.
Virginia Tech records 4-plus sacks
The Hokies defense, having had two weeks to rest, is expected to come out strong in their game against Duke. Duke transfer Aeneas Peebles will be facing his former team, which should give him extra motivation, while Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who was overlooked as a finalist for the Lombardi Award, is likely to be fueled by that snub.
While Maalik Murphy, a Texas transfer, will present a challenge for the defense, the Hokies have been effective at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Despite some players, like Jaden Keller and Jaylen Jones, being limited in practice this week, the defense should be motivated after two weeks off and following a second half against Clemson where they allowed 24 points. With extra time to prepare, they’ll be eager to perform at a high level.
The final score ends up being a one-score game
This game is shaping up to be a nail-biter, likely coming down to the final possession. The real question is whether the Hokies will be able to pull out the win. Duke has been involved in many close games this season, and they’ve managed to come out on top more often than not. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, hasn’t had the same luck in tight matchups, but at some point, they’ll have to win a one-score game, right? The final prediction will come on Saturday morning, but the anticipation is already building for what could be a thrilling finish.
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