Virginia Tech heads to Clemson this weekend with a chance to make this one feel a lot bigger than a typical midseason ACC matchup. It’s being billed as the most intriguing meeting between the Hokies and Tigers since Dabo Swinney took over at Clemson, and the oddsmakers have kept it tight enough to make the case that this could go either way.
The week around Blacksburg has been quiet, and in this case that may not be a bad thing. Even with the calm, a few Hokies have still been getting attention.
Luke Reynolds continues to draw notice for his production and overall impact, while Que’Sean Brown is coming off a breakout showing against Georgia Tech that earned him the Paul Hornung Award’s player of the week recognition. Brown also landed on PFF’s national and ACC team of the week at wide receiver.
There’s also the usual interest in hearing from Coach Franklin at his Monday press conference, which always offers a little more insight into how the team is approaching game prep.
On the uniform front, the Hokies appear headed for all white this weekend. No helmet details have been confirmed, but the expectation is that they’ll pair the look with maroon hats.
The betting line has turned heads, too. Clemson is only a 2.5-point favorite at home, which makes this feel close to a pick ’em.
That number reflects how uneven the Tigers have been, especially on offense. Clemson enters the game 2-1 in conference play and 4-2 overall, but the passing game has struggled badly.
The Tigers have only two passing touchdowns in six games.
That matchup creates the central tension of the game. Virginia Tech’s weakness is pass defense, while Clemson’s weakness is pass offense.
Something has to give, and that’s exactly the kind of setup that makes the Hokies hard to trust. Bryan Manning sees the game as close, and he thinks Virginia Tech’s offense can move the ball against a solid Clemson defense, especially with Ethan Grunkemeyer and Luke Reynolds in the mix.
But he’s still leaning Tigers in a tight one.
“I think the spread is accurate. I think it will be close.
Virginia Tech’s defensive weakness (pass defense) matches up with Clemson’s offensive weakness (pass offense). Something will have to give.
I never feel good about that for the Hokies. We should all be tired of the Hokies being someone’s “get-right” game.
Clemson has two passing touchdowns in six games. Don’t let them get going.
I wanna pick the Hokies. I think the offense will have success against a good defense, especially Ethan Grunkemeyer and Luke Reynolds.
However, until the Hokies can prove they can win a game like this on the road, I will give the advantage to Clemson in a close one.”
He has Clemson 24, Hokies 21.
John Schneider sees the game a little differently. He pointed to Clemson’s offensive problems, the fact that Swinney is starting a freshman, and Virginia Tech’s strength against the run as reasons the Hokies can make life difficult for the Tigers.
The key, in his view, is forcing Clemson to throw and generating pressure on Reynolds. The question is whether Brent Pry will trust the secondary enough to blitz aggressively.
If Virginia Tech can do that while avoiding mistakes and moving the ball, Schneider believes the Hokies can win in a lower-scoring game.
“This one got really hard as the Skipper fired to end the Georgia Tech game. Clemson is 2-1 in the conference, and 4-2 overall.
Their offense is just not playing well. Dabo has never found a replacement for “Sunshine”, and he’s starting a Freshman.
That doesn’t necessarily make things terrible for Swinney’s crew, but it does present a major weakness because Tech’s defensive line has been doing very well against the run. So, the Hokies need to make the Tigers pass and get heavy pressure on their guy named Reynolds.
The trick is though does Brent Pry have the confidence in the struggling secondary to send that much needed extra man against a shaky QB and offensive line? Clemson is always going to put up a stout defense, so the Hokies are going to have to play a tough game, move fast, find gaps and not make mental errors and mistakes (especially because Clemson is an old ACC team and “home cookin’” is not uncommon).
If the Hokies can overcome their reticence to blitz and can move the ball and score against the Tiger defense, this one might be relatively low scoring, but the Hokies can win. I’m going out on a limb, here, without being a homer. I think the Hokies take this one in a modest scoring smashmouth football game.”
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Is Catching Clemson At A Surprisingly Unsettled Moment
Clemsons trip into its latest stretch of ACC play comes with more uncertainty than usual, which is not exactly the setting Virginia Tech expected when it first looked at this matchup. The Tigers are still 4-2 and backed by one of the conferences better defensive backfields, with cornerback Ashton Hampton anchoring a secondary that can make life difficult for any opponent.
The unease is on the other side of the ball, where Clemson has been sorting through a passing game that has not found much rhythm and now has to do it with a new face under center. A true freshman is stepping into the starting job after Chris Vizzinas arm injury, adding another layer of intrigue to a team already carrying questions about whether it can keep the standard high under Dabo Swinney after losses to LSU and Miami. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech's Secondary Faces A Clemson Test It Can't Flunk
Virginia Techs secondary has spent much of the season fighting its own inconsistency, with communication breakdowns, missed coverage chances and costly penalties repeatedly showing up at the wrong times. Defensive coordinator Brent Pry has acknowledged the issues and made it clear the Hokies have been trying to tighten things up, especially in the areas that tend to decide whether a back end holds together or gets stressed apart.
Now comes Clemson, which will test every bit of that progress. Virginia Tech has been working to clean up its zone discipline and get its defensive communication sharper before the ball is snapped, because the next challenge is the kind that punishes hesitation and confusion in a hurry. The Hokies do not need a perfect secondary, but they do need one that can stay connected long enough to survive a matchup like this. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Heads To Clemson With One Huge Test Ahead
Virginia Tech heads into Clemson with a chance to measure itself against one of the ACCs most familiar powers, and the matchup comes with a lot more than just conference positioning on the line. Ethan Grunkemeyer has given the Hokies a passing presence that has kept them competitive, and the latest betting outlook suggests this is the kind of game that will test whether their recent work holds up away from home.
Clemsons history in the series hangs over this one, along with the usual questions about how Virginia Tech translates its offense on the road. The Tigers have been a tough out in this matchup for years, and the Hokies are walking into a setting where recent performance, trend lines and a tricky environment all point to a demanding afternoon. [Read more 🡒]