When the Virginia Tech football team travels to Charlottesville on Saturday night to play Virginia, it has a chance to really extend the pain and misery for its rivals. The Cavaliers are not only looking for a third win in the series this century, but they are also looking to strengthen their ACC Championship Game hopes.
On paper, this looks like a mismatch as Virginia Tech enters 3-8 under an interim coach against 9-2 Virginia. Let's not sugarcoat it, if Virginia doesn't win this game against one of the worst Tech teams they've gone up against in years, then I don't know when they will.
Virginia Tech goes into the game with nothing to lose, as its season will end after the game, and the James Franklin era begins. As for Virginia, they have everything to lose. A loss and they can kiss the ACC title game goodbye, as well as a trip to the College Football Playoff. However, CBS Sports sees a game going down to the wire.
CBS Sports takes a shot at Virginia ahead of Virginia Tech showdown
When the season started, not many people had Virginia penciled in for the ACC Championship Game, and Robby Kalland of CBS Sports took a subtle shot at the Cavaliers about the ACC not wanting them in Charlotte.
"Virginia has beaten Virginia Tech twice this century, and now the Hokies are the only thing standing in their way of a trip to Charlotte for the ACC title game.
"The Hokies battled but were outclassed last week by Miami, but Virginia will feel like a team much closer to their weight class. I think this is a tense, sloppy football game in the way so many rivalry games are. I think both offenses will be able to put up yards, but I could also see both stalling out multiple times in the red zone and having some brutal turnovers.
"Ultimately, I'll take the Cavaliers to win and punch their ticket to Charlotte, in part because I think that's something the ACC would rather not have happen, and as stated before, always go with the outcome that's worst for the ACC as a conference,'' Kalland wrote.
PICK: Virginia 24-23 over Virginia Tech
Oh boy, a one-score game, and the ACC doesn't want the Cavaliers in Charlotte. Can you blame them? Virginia Tech has a chance to do the ACC a favor, and without Brent Pry on the sideline in a one-score game, could they do the unthinkable this year and spoil Virginia's dream?
Philip Montgomery has already won over Virginia Tech fans for the job he has done, taking over for Pry in September when he was fired and keeping the team together. Imagine if he can lead the Hokies over UVA on the road, and with what is at stake for them? What an ending to the season that would be.