Entering Year 4 in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry is entering the season on the hot seat in what is a year with more questions than answers facing the Hokies beginning on Sunday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against 13th-ranked South Carolina.
There was a lot of turnover this offseason with the roster and on the coaching staff, and who knows, maybe a fresh start is what this team needs. Here are three bold predictions for Virginia Tech in what is a pivotal season for several reasons for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech has a winning record in one-score games
I mean, if this doesn't turn around this year, there is going to be no improvement for the Hokies. Plain and simple. However, this is something that Pry admitted that he has taken a hard look at this offseason in improving one winning one-score games. Last year, Virginia Tech was winless in one-score games, going 0-5, but it has to change at some point. Got a feeling that John Love's leg is going to come into play with some game-winning field goals when all is said and done.
Virginia Tech wins at least six home games
This season, the Hokies have seven games inside Lane Stadium, and with a neutral site for the opener against South Carolina, they have just four true road games, all ACC contests. The home slate isn't easy, but manageable.
Vanderbilt is the toughest non-conference game in Blacksburg, while Old Dominion and Wofford should be wins. Wake Forest and California should be wins in conference play, while Louisville and Miami are going to be tough. Do we really trust Miami on the road in late November in a cold-weather climate? Winning six games at home will be tough, but very doable.
Kyron Drones finishes in Top 10 for Heisman voting
Last year was a tough season for Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones, with injuries that cost him four of the final five games of the year. He enters this year in full health, in great shape, and enjoying his time under first-year offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery.
Drones is looking to improve his draft stock this year, and despite losing his top four wide receivers and Bhayshul Tuten in the backfield, he has a deep running back group and some exciting transfer and young receivers. There are some good quarterbacks in college this year, and Drones, if he remains healthy, can finish in the Top 10 voting for the Heisman Trophy.