2014 Hokies’ Game-By-Game Season Predictions

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Hokies are poised for a tough season in the ACC Coastal Division.  The Hokies are coming off two straight sub-par (by Head Coach Frank Beamer’s lofty standards) seasons after winning 10 or more games their first eight seasons in the ACC.  They will have a new quarterback calling plays for the first time in four years since Logan Thomas departed for the NFL.

The new quarterback along with an improved offensive line and running game should transform the offense, which has ranked towards the bottom of the nation the last two years as there wasn’t much offense beyond the dual threat Thomas.

The new offense, coupled with Bud Foster’s annually impressive defense will push the Hokies back into the Top 25 by midseason and should approach the Top 10 by the end, most likely finishing in the early teens.  A preseason outlook of their schedule is summed up as follows:

Week 1 vs. William and Mary: This game will be closer longer than any Hokie fan feels comfortable with but the game will never truly be in doubt. After a sluggish first half in which the new offense fails to gel as a cohesive unit, the Hokies will pour on the points in the third quarter for an easy win. Hokies 35 Tribe 10.

Week 2 at Ohio State: This game will be a true test for the Hokies.  Without Braxton Miller, no one is sure what kind of team the Buckeyes will actually be putting on the field. His replacement will not have the experience, or talent of Miller, but his teammates will still be as good as advertised. The game will be closer than originally thought, but the Hokies come out hard luck losers here. Hokies 17 Ohio State 24.

Week 3 vs. East Carolina: For reasons explainable to the average Hokie fan, the annual game against the Pirates will closer than necessary and in doubt deep into the second half. Virginia Tech will finally get things together in the fourth quarter to take a game in which the Hokies are outplayed on both sides of the ball due to costly mistakes. Hokies 24 Pirates 14.

Week 4 vs Georgia Tech: The ACC season kicks off against the Yellow Jackets at home. The winner of this game will be in the driver’s seat for the Coast Division crown and Bud Foster will have his defense ready to take down the Yellow Jackets ground game. The Hokies roll to their first ACC win of the season in the battle of the Techs.  Hokies 35 Yellow Jackets 10.

Week 5 vs Western Michigan: A nonconference pushover for the Hokies arrives in Week 5 to balance out the Ohio State game. The Hokies win easily. Hokies 49 Western Michigan 6.

Week 6 at North Carolina: This will be a big test for the Hokies as UNC has been improving for the last few years, academic scandal aside. The Hokies pull out a close game here taking control of the Coastal Division. Hokies 17 UNC 14.