Hokies Look to Ground Orange in ACC Showdown
The Virginia Tech Hokies (5-3) head north to the JMA Wireless Dome this Saturday to take on the Syracuse Orange (5-2) in an intriguing ACC matchup. Kickoff is set for noon EST, and the Hokies enter as 3.5-point favorites with the total at 53.5 (MyBookie)
While Syracuse boasts a new head coach in Fran Brown, who has led the Orange to an impressive 5-2 start, including two wins against ranked opponents, Virginia Tech appears primed to exploit a key weakness in the Orange’s game: The rushing game.
Ground Game Dominance:
Virginia Tech holds a significant edge in yards per rush attempt differential. The Hokies boast a +1.2 average, ranking them 30th in the nation, while Syracuse sits at a dismal -2, placing them 125th out of 134 teams. This disparity could be a deciding factor in the game.
Hokies Offense Poised for Success:
Expect the Hokies to lean heavily on their rushing attack, led by the dynamic duo of Da’Quan Felton and Jaylin Lane. Felton, a big-play threat, is on the verge of reaching 2,000 career receiving yards, while Lane leads the Hokies in both receptions and receiving yards this season and is closing in on 1,000 receiving yards as a Hokie. Their ability to make plays downfield will be crucial in keeping the Syracuse defense honest.
Orange Coming Off a Blowout Loss:
Syracuse is reeling after a demoralizing 41-13 loss to Pittsburgh, where quarterback Kyle McCord threw five interceptions. While McCord has been solid this season, the Hokies’ defense, which held Georgia Tech to just six points last week, will look to capitalize on any lingering doubts in the Orange’s passing game.
Trends and Predictions:
- Virginia Tech has won four of its last five games against conference opponents.
- Syracuse has lost 11 of its last 12 November games as an underdog.
- Virginia Tech has covered the spread in each of its last four games.
- Syracuse has failed to cover the spread in six of its last seven games against non-AP-ranked teams at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Our score prediction model has Virginia Tech winning this game 32-20. The Hokies’ ability to control the line of scrimmage and exploit Syracuse’s weak running game should pave the way for a comfortable victory.
Betting Pick:
We’re taking Virginia Tech -3.5. The Hokies are the more complete team, and their recent form, combined with Syracuse’s struggles with the run game, makes them a solid bet to cover the spread on the road.