Virginia Tech vs West Virginia – College Football Predictions
The Game
Here we go ! This promises to be a fantastic game and we cannot wait to watch this bad boy. This will be their first meeting since 2005 and the BLACK DIAMOND TROPHY IS AT STAKE. It does not get much better than this, yo.
The Hokies had a fine 10-win season in the first year of the Justin Fuente era and appear to be a legit contender in the ACC Coastal. The Mountaineers are also coming off a 10-win season and only lost in the 2016 regular season to Oklahoma and Oklahoma St. They proceeded to get SPANKED by YOUR Miami Hurricanes in their bowl game to finish up at 10-3. These are two really solid programs. Let’s go !!
The Details
VIRGINIA TECH 4 WEST VIRGINIA (51)
MEGALOCKS LINE – Virginia Tech -6
“Vegas” Implied Projected Score: Virginia Tech 27.5 West Virginia 23.5
Massey Ratings Projected Score: Virginia Tech 29 West Virginia 26
The Match-Up
Virginia Tech offense vs West Virginia defense
The Hokies are going to start redshirt freshman Josh Jackson at QB who provides a dual threat for the Mountaineers to account for on Sunday. The Hokies have a pretty good track record in terms of introducing new QBs and it will be interesting to see how Jackson does in this match-up. The Hokies bring back last season’s leading rusher (from the RB position) Travon McMillian as well as excellent WR Cam Phillips. The OL looks to be in really good shape although they did allow 32 sacks last season. The Hokies should prove to be balanced on offense and are not going up against a brick wall type of defense. We expect good things.
The Mountaineers will not be facing a JUGGERNAUT offense this week but they only return three starters on defense. The DL and secondary in particular are pretty inexperienced. We worry about the ability of the defense to stop the run (159+ rushing yards allowed per game each of last five seasons) and get PENETRATION (never more than 30 sacks since 2011).
West Virginia offense vs Virginia Tech defense
Will Grier is the man. The QB. How will he perform in his first start for WV against a defense as talented as the Hokies bring to the table ? Call us skeptical. The offense returns #1 RB Justin Crawford (1,184) but only bring back 2/5 starters on the OL. The WR group is lacking depth and it will be tough to do damage against a really really good VT secondary. The Hokies have some inexperience on the DL but will have one of the best back 7s in all of college football. Maybe we are drinking the Hokie Kool Aid. Who knows ? We find it hard to believe that West Virginia will have consistent success on offense.
MEGA SIZZLERS
The Hokies were great in the 2nd half last season outscoring opponents 268-143……West Virginia HC Dana Holgorsen is just 31-44-1 ATS (41%) during his tenure in Morgantown.
Summary
This feels like a game Virginia Tech should win by 7+. Their defense is excellent and should provide all kinds of problems for the Mountaineer offense. No doubt, there is uncertainty at QB for the Hokies but we feel like the Hokies will have more success over four quarters. Don’t forget – West Virginia played against big boy defenses twice last season and scored 17 vs Kansas St (MEAGLOCKS 9001 star STEAM PLAY WINNER) and 14 vs Miami (8900 STAR MEGALOCKS AWARD WINNING MAX BOMB WINNER). Sorry. Gonna go with the Hokies and presume that WV QB Will Grier is not the best QB of all time.
Conclusion
Official play: Virginia Tech -4 -106 (play no higher than -5.5)