After a bye week, the Virginia Tech football team will return to the field on Friday night in Dallas against SMU in what is a rather big conference game for both. The Hokies and Mustangs enter the game with two losses, and the loser will have their ACC Championship Game hopes dashed.
SMU lost this past weekend at Syracuse, 30-27, in the biggest surprise result of the weekend. Now, they have a quick turnaround against Virginia Tech, who last played 13 nights earlier at Clemson and came away with a 20-16 win that improved them to 6-2 and it made them bowl-eligible. Here are three bold predictions for Friday night's game in Texas.
Virginia Tech records three-plus sacks
Last week, Syracuse sacked SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings four times in the Orange win. However, he is an elusive signal-caller and is not someone who goes down easily. Brent Pry's defense has played some talented quarterbacks this season and Jennings is at the top of the list.
Virginia Tech's defensive line has done a nice job getting to the quarterback this season, with Aycen Stevens and Kemari Copeland leading the way. They will have to do it again against Jennings, and staying in their lanes and getting tight, legal coverage in the secondary will be key. This will be a great matchup to watch throughout the game.
Virginia Tech rushes for 150-plus yards
You know that offensive coordinator Ty Howle will have quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer dropping back, throwing the ball a lot, but if he is going to have any success, he will have his running game to get going behind an offensive line that sounds like it could be getting healthy.
Getting anyone back on the offensive line would be nice for position coach Matt Moore, head coach James Franklin, and Howle. As far as Marcellous Hawkins Jr. and Jeffrey Overton Jr. go, they have formed a very good 1-2 punch this season in the backfield, and each has had a breakout game, with Overton Jr. rushing for over 200 yards at Boston College in a nor'easter.
Both backs have been just as good in the passing game and blocking for Grunkemeyer, but if Virginia Tech is going to pull off the upset over SMU in the first conference match between the two schools, then having success running the ball is a must.
Virginia Tech scores special teams/defensive touchdown
This is one where the Hokies will likely need a touchdown from either the defense or special teams to beat the Mustangs. The defense has a score against Old Dominion earlier this season after having one called back on the previus play.
If there is someone who deserves a touchdown on special teams, it is the punt returner, Que'Sean Brown. He has come close to taking one to the house this season, including in an ACC game at Boston College back in September. He has come close and is due to break one, and Friday night would be a good time to do it.
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