Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Look To Run Over, Through and Around Wake Forest

It’s homecoming week in Blacksburg, as I’m sure anyone who has been on campus will tell you. Flyers telling people to vote for a queen or king are just as common as leaves on the ground.

But for the avid Hokie fan there is a serious game of football to be played. Well, to be honest, it shouldn’t be a very serious game.

Wake Forest is just bad this year. They lost their do-it-all quarterback Riley Skinner and have one of the worst defenses in the ACC. And they lost on the road to Stanford and Florida State by 44 and 31, respectively.

It’s pretty obvious to tell why Virginia Tech scheduled the Deacons for homecoming. But Tech hasn’t exactly dominated their lesser opponents. In fact they lost to one. And that makes every game serious.

Wake Forest has really changed its identity from last year and rank 29^th nationally in rushing yards and 104^th in passing yards. While the passing defense of the Hokies doesn’t show it in allowed yards per game, it's definitely been the highlight of the defense. Its pass efficiency defense is much more telling of their talent.

Every team the Hokies have played this year average more passing than rushing yards, but Wake Forest will be a change of pace. This will be a big test for the defensive line and linebackers who have improved over the course of the season but aren’t elite yet.

The Wake Forest rookie QB, Tanner Price, likely won’t have a good game. The reason the Hokies have dominated Boston College the past two years is because they have forced the Eagles’ inexperienced quarterbacks into poor decisions. Expect the same type of game against Wake and multiple turnovers.

Florida State was able to completely shut down the Deacon’s offense, 185 total yards, and you can bet the defense watched a lot of film from that game. But the Seminole's defense has been a lot better than the Hokie’s this year. Who would’ve thought that at the start of the season?

I almost forgot to mention the Tech offense because the Wake defense is so bad. Tyrod shouldn’t have to play much of the fourth quarter and Darren Evans and David Wilson could have career games. Ryan Williams is listed as questionable in this week’s depth chart, but I honestly hope he doesn’t play simply because he won’t need to. He needs the rest more than the yards.

I didn’t expect the identity change in Wake Forest, but it shouldn’t make a drastic difference to the overall result I predicted pre-season. Bud Foster will have his defense prepared for the Deacon’s style of play and will try to make them a one-dimensional team.

The Hokie defense hasn’t started well, but has come on strong after the first few drives. So check the box score at the end of the first and/or second quarter. It will be very indicative as to how Tech has played. And I think the Hokies will flex their muscle against Wake Forest.

Virginia Tech – 90%, Wake Forest – 10%

48 – 13 Virginia Tech

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