Previewing No. 13 Virginia Tech at No. 10 Miami

This Saturday evening brings us what should be a great battle between two ACC top 15 teams, as No. 10 Miami hosts No. 13 Virginia Tech under the lights. The Hurricanes are looking to continue their undefeated ways by notching an eighth straight win, as the Hokies are seeking to take control of the ACC Coastal division (and likely a spot in the national top ten). The game will be played at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC.

As I type this on Thursday evening, Bovada has Virginia Tech as three point favorites. This is obviously subject to change. Wait, the undefeated, top-ten team playing at home as an underdog? Of course they are, because let's face the facts: the U has yet to play any legitimate competition. And when their competition is actually relatively respectable, they barely squeak out a win.

I mean it's not like Virginia Tech has a bunch of stellar wins to boast about, but it's not the worst scenario to have your only loss to the No. 4 Clemson Tigers. VTech lost that game by 14 points, which isn't too bad against a team like Clemson. I also do believe that if Miami eventually faces off against Clemson, they'd lose by at least the same margin. Virginia Tech has been exposed to a high power team this season, which Miami can't really say. Until this week.

Virginia Tech also has some decent wins in beating West Virginia 31-24 and Boston College 23-10. Neither team is in college football's top tier, but they're still notable wins that were won by more than five points like the 'Canes have been doing.

Easily the best aspect of this Miami team is the turnover chain. I never get sick of it.



The Virginia Tech offense has suffered six turnovers this season: four interceptions and two fumbles lost. So hopefully for everyone's sake we get to see some 'Canes be donned with the golden "U" chain.

The player to watch for the Hokies will be freshman quarterback Josh Jackson. This kid is an absolute stud; he's thrown for 2,032 yards and 17 touchdowns on 149 completions. Jackson has completed 62.3% of his throws, and has a QB rating of 153.9, the 17th best in the country.

However, Miami's defense has been notably good, allowing the 20th fewest points per game in the country with 18.7. Junior defensive back Michael Jackson has tallied four interceptions this season; the most in the country is six. The 'Canes defensive unit has allowed the 28th fewest total yards this season with 2,642. 

On the flip side, Virginia Tech's defense doesn't mess around either. The Hokies D has allowed 2,276 total yards this year (10th fewest in the nation), which translates to 285 total yards allowed per game. Most impressively, the Hokies have only allowed 11.5 points per game. Only Alabama has allowed fewer points per game with 9.8.

Only 33 quarterbacks in the country have over 2,000 total passing yards this year, and Miami's junior QB Malik Rosier is one of them. On 252 attempts he's recorded 143 completions, 2,071 yards, 17 touchdowns (tied for 20th best), and a QB rating of 144.9 (32nd best in the country). Rosier has also rushed for 211 total yards and two touchdowns. 

Virginia Tech and Miami have split the series in the last four times they've met; Hokies won 37-16 at home last year, Miami won in both 2015 (30-20 at home) and 2014 (30-6 in Blacksburg), and VTech came out on top 42-24 in 2013 at Miami. 

Let's consider this the game that decides best out of five, and I'm taking the Hokies to win. I firmly believe that they're about expose the U. I'd wait to see if the line drops to -2.5 or something, but something tells me it will move the other way before kickoff. Either way, I am all in on Virginia Tech in this one.

HIT IT!!!