As the calendar turns to November, we enter the final third of the 2024 season for the Virginia Tech football team. The Hokies kick off the remaining schedule on Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome against a tough Syracuse team. At 5-3, Brent Pry’s team is one win away from reaching bowl eligibility for the second straight season and the Orange enter the game at 5-2, meaning the winner becomes bowl-eligible on the first Saturday of November.
Virginia Tech has four ACC games remaining, two on the road and two at home with a second bye week sandwiched in between on Nov. 16. As the Hokies begin the final third of their schedule, we’ll take one last shot at predicting their final four games.
Saturday at Syracuse
Virginia Tech heads to New York banged up with running back Bhayshul Tuten expected to play, but just how effective he’ll be remains to be seen after suffering an injury late in the fourth quarter against Georgia Tech. on Tuesday, Pry said that Tuten and offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin were both probable for the game.
Syracuse has Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord at quarterback and he is coming off a three-pick 6s first half in last week’s loss at Pittsburgh. Under first-year coach Fran Brown, Syracuse brought in several transfers on both sides of the ball, which has led to them having a good first season of the Brown era. The Hokies are the favorite, but considering the troubles they’ve had on the road at the Dome until they go out and get a win, this won't be a fun weekend.
Prediction: Syracuse wins, 31-24
Virginia Tech Record: 5-4 (3-2 ACC)
Nov. 9 vs. Clemson
When the schedule came out, this game was circled by a lot of people, but things haven’t gone as planned. Virginia Tech would need to beat Syracuse this weekend to make this game have a lot on the line (and maybe a visit from College GameDay?). Since losing the season-opener against Georgia, the Tigers have rolled to six straight wins and host Louisville this weekend.
You have to give credit where credit is due as Dabo Swinney has done a nice job with Clemson in going from a 34-3 blowout loss to the Bulldogs to rolling their way to a potential berth in the ACC Championship Game next month in Charlotte. Cade Klubnik has emerged as one of the conference’s top quarterbacks and the Tigers offense has been putting some crooked numbers this season. Unless something unforeseen happens, it’s hard seeing the Hokies coming away with a win in this one, even at Lane Stadium.
Prediction: Clemson wins, 35-20
Virginia Tech Record: 5-5 (3-3 ACC)
Nov. 23 at Duke
This will be a Homecoming for Virginia Tech defensive tackle, Aeneas Peebles, who transferred to the Hokies from Duke. First-year coach Manny Diaz has the Blue Devils near the top of the ACC and a blocked field goal at the end of regulation and a missed two-point conversion in overtime last weekend at home against SMU from being undefeated in conference play.
Texas transfer Malik Murphy has played well under center for Diaz and he certainly has them trending in the right direction in his first season in charge. This has the potential to be a tough road game, but the feeling here is Virginia Tech picks up a road win.
Prediction: Virginia Tech wins, 24-16
Virginia Tech Record: 6-5 (4-3 ACC)
Nov. 30 vs. Virginia
The Cavaliers started the season 4-1, but three straight losses and a daunting remaining schedule make it a very real possibility that they once again come up short of becoming bowl-eligible, again. Last season, the Hokies went to Charlottesville needing a win on Thanksgiving Weekend to become bowl-eligible and they rolled their way to a 55-17 victory.
Virginia Tech fans would love for the Cavaliers to come to Blacksburg needing a win to extend their season, but they’ll take a win any way they can. Expect the Hokies to win and win big again.
Prediction: Virginia Tech wins, 34-14
Virginia Tech Record: 7-5 (5-3 ACC)