Virginia Tech heads to SMU on Friday night with both teams sitting at 6-2, and this ACC matchup comes in with a little extra intrigue because it’s the first time these schools have ever met.
The Hokies enter off an upset win at Clemson on Oct. 24, a result that snapped a two-game skid and gave Virginia Tech a week off to reset. SMU, on the other hand, is trying to shake off an upset loss at Syracuse that ended a four-game winning streak.
Virginia Tech’s conference mark stands at 3-2, while SMU is 4-2 against ACC opponents. The Mustangs have been especially strong at home, where they’re a perfect 5-0 this season. Still, Virginia Tech has been stubborn all year and has not lost by more than five points in any game.
That makes this one feel tighter than the setting might suggest. SMU has been a tough out at home, but this is also the shortest spread the Mustangs have faced in their own building. They barely covered as 9.5-point favorites in a 10-point win over Virginia a few weeks ago.
The biggest name to watch is SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, who has put together a strong senior season. He has thrown for 2,414 yards and 21 touchdowns, which puts him in the top 10 nationally in both categories.
Jennings has also cleaned things up after an uneven start. He has five interceptions on the year, but all of them came in his first four games. Over the last four contests, he has thrown nine touchdowns without an interception.
Home has been a much friendlier environment for Jennings, too. In five home games, he has 15 touchdowns and one interception, compared with six touchdowns and four interceptions in three road games.
Virginia Tech’s recent form and SMU’s home edge set up a game that could stay close deep into the night. The Hokies have already shown they can hang with strong competition, and the Mustangs are coming off a loss that gives the visitors a little momentum advantage in the matchup.
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