Well, here we are, the Commonwealth Cup on the football field. After 11 games, 13 weeks, and a ton of adversity, it's time to throw everything out the window and buckle up for 60 minutes with more than just bragging rights on the line Saturday night at Lane Stadium for Virginia Tech and Virginia.
Both teams enter the game at 5-6 and the winner gets a bowl game and the loser is done for the 2024 season. If that ends up being the Hokies, what a major disappointment that would be. Virginia would love better than to come to Blacksburg and become bowl-eligible on their biggest rival field and extend their season into next month. So who will win the game? Currently, Virginia Tech is a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5 points according to DraftKings at the time this article is being written. Here are some staff picks for the Hokies and Cavaliers.
Scott Roche: Site Expert
When the season started, not many people thought the Hokies would be in this position, but here we are. Injuries have played a part in the season for Virginia Tech and who knows who will be healthy enough to play at quarterback, Kyronn Drones, Collin Schlee, or Pop Watson, but whoever is under center is going to have a lot of pressure on them. Don't expect a 55-17 beatdown that Virginia Tech gave the Cavaliers last November. The Hokies love playing in one-score games and there is no reason to think that this one won't be and we know what happens when it's a one-score game, don't we?
Prediction: Virginia 23, Virginia Tech 20
Roy Hatfield: Contributor
Nothing about this season makes me feel good, and I think it’s more of the same on Saturday. I'm not sure if Drones will be ready to go, so I’m picking the Cavs to pull the upset in Lane Stadium in a rock fight. It will be a low-scoring defensive battle, and the Hokies will come up short in the end.
Final score: Virginia 24 Virginia Tech 21
Until proven otherwise, a one-score game just isn't going the Hokies way. If they win, it'll have to be by double-digits. In the end, taking Virginia and the points and the under seem like the way to in this one.