Now that the schedule is out, here are my way too early predictions for the Hokies:
Sat., Sep 3, 2016: at home versus Liberty. The Hokies should win this game as long as they aren't looking ahead to September 10th. This game serves purely as a warm up for the Hokies before they take on Tennessee the following week. This is the time for whoever quarterbacks the Hokies to get used to running the offense before facing the Volunteers. 52-14 Virginia Tech.
Sat., Sep 10, 2016: Battle at Bristol versus Tennessee. This was the game that former Coach Frank Beamer could not wait to happen. This will be the biggest game in college football history (attendance-wise). Coach Fuente will lead the Hokies against Tennessee, a team they last played in the 2009 Chick-fil-a Bowl (the Tyrod-led Hokies won 37-14). Virginia Tech will need a strong effort rushing the ball if they want to win this game, but in all likelihood the Hokies will fall short against the Volunteers. Tennessee wins 34-31.
Sat., Sep 17, 2016: at home against Boston College. The Hokies will put the tough loss behind them and start off the home-stand strong against a struggling Boston College team. A solid effort of both offense and defense wins this one for Tech. Hokies win 38-21.
Sat., Sep 24, 2016: at home versus East Carolina. This is a team that has had VT's number of late. The Hokies are playing the Pirates for the foreseeable future, but Virginia Tech won't let ECU get the 2016 game against the Hokies. Virginia Tech and Coach Fuente put on a show and make a statement against East Carolina. Hokies win 34-13.
Sat., Oct 1, 2016: Bye week. If it's possible for Tech to lose a bye week, it's happening here. The bye comes way too early this season, and it could come back to hurt the Hokies later in 2016.
Sat., Oct 8, 2016: at North Carolina. This is one of the tougher games for the Hokies. UNC had a potent offense last season, which resulted in UNC winning 11 straight games before falling to Clemson and Baylor. Tech will play hard against the Tar Heels, who stole Beamer's final home game. With revenge on their minds, they keep it close against the talented Tar Heels. Foster finds a way to confuse the UNC offense, but the Tech offense just can't score enough points to win this one. UNC finds a way to win the game on its final drive, though. Tar Heels win 28-24.
Sat., Oct 15, 2016: at Syracuse. VT's return to the Carrier Dome may bring up some bad memories and struggles. When the Hokies played there with quarterback Michael Vick, they struggled before finally putting the game away. Will the Hokies see shades of Orange in New York? I see the Hokies winning a low scoring affair against the Orange. Hokies win Fuente's first ACC road game 17-14.
Thu., Oct 20, 2016: at home against Miami. This game is one that ESPN really wanted to broadcast: Fuente versus Richt (and his first Thursday Night game in Lane Stadium). The short turnaround is tough for both teams here - but Miami probably got the worst of it with their schedule. The atmosphere in Lane on Thursday is second-to-none, which propels the Hokies to a big win over rival Miami. Hokies win 38-34.
Thu., Oct 27, 2016: at Pittsburgh. Virginia Tech hasn't played well in NFL stadiums - which is where Pittsburgh plays (Heinz Field). Virginia Tech struggled mightily the last time they visited Pitt (scored 16 points), which is something they don't want to repeat. Tech will need to place a heavy focus on running the ball if they want to win this game on the road (ideally around 180 yards on the ground to come out with a victory). I just don't see that happening for the Hokies. Pittsburgh wins another close game against the Hokies 21-17.
Sat., Nov 5, 2016: at Duke. The last meeting against the Blue Devils resulted in a 4OT marathon of a game, which the Hokies eventually lost. Duke had a solid team last year, but faded after the victory of Virginia Tech. Duke is a well-coached team; one that doesn't make many mistakes. The Hokies will need to force Duke into a couple turnovers here, but VT shouldn't struggle against Duke this season. Hokies don't let the Blue Devils get a winning streak against them. VT wins 34-21.
Sat., Nov 12, 2016: at home against Georgia Tech. This is the game that used to decide the winner of the ACC Coastal, but both teams have had trouble of late. Georgia Tech failed to meet expectations last season - and eventually didn't even qualify for a bowl game. Virginia Tech has done a good job of stopping the triple-option. Ball control is always a factor when playing against the Yellow Jackets, and the Hokies will need to win the TOP battle. By now the Hokies will have long-since had a clear #1 rusher - so look for him to run the ball frequently. Hokies beat the Yellow Jackets 37-28.
Sat., Nov 19, 2016: at Notre Dame. This will be the first matchup between the Hokies and Fighting Irish since ND "joined" the ACC. This is rather late in the year for the Hokies to have a non-conference game, especially one of this magnitude. This will be a good test for the Hokies against a good (if healthy) ND team. Tech's bye-week was really early in the season, which comes back to bite the tired Hokies here. The Fighting Irish beat the Hokies. I see this game being Tech's biggest loss of the year, with ND a 34-21 winner.
Sat., Nov 26, 2016: at home against UVA. Beamer won the last twelve games of his career against the Wahoos, something that the team and new head coach Justin Fuente will not let come to a stop. The Commonwealth Cup will continue to reside in Blacksburg, with the Hokies winning big against UVA. The overwhelms the Cavaliers, winning by a comfortable margin of 41-21. Fuente starts off his Tech career 1-0 against his in-state rivals.
I see Tech a solid 8-4 (6-2 ACC) in Fuente's first season. This won't be quite good enough for the Hokies to win the Coastal, with the losses to UNC and Pitt being the difference. Fuente will continue the Hokies nation-leading bowl streak.
What are your thoughts on the schedule? Did the ACC do Tech any favors?
Sat., Sep 3, 2016: at home versus Liberty. The Hokies should win this game as long as they aren't looking ahead to September 10th. This game serves purely as a warm up for the Hokies before they take on Tennessee the following week. This is the time for whoever quarterbacks the Hokies to get used to running the offense before facing the Volunteers. 52-14 Virginia Tech.
Sat., Sep 10, 2016: Battle at Bristol versus Tennessee. This was the game that former Coach Frank Beamer could not wait to happen. This will be the biggest game in college football history (attendance-wise). Coach Fuente will lead the Hokies against Tennessee, a team they last played in the 2009 Chick-fil-a Bowl (the Tyrod-led Hokies won 37-14). Virginia Tech will need a strong effort rushing the ball if they want to win this game, but in all likelihood the Hokies will fall short against the Volunteers. Tennessee wins 34-31.
Sat., Sep 17, 2016: at home against Boston College. The Hokies will put the tough loss behind them and start off the home-stand strong against a struggling Boston College team. A solid effort of both offense and defense wins this one for Tech. Hokies win 38-21.
Sat., Sep 24, 2016: at home versus East Carolina. This is a team that has had VT's number of late. The Hokies are playing the Pirates for the foreseeable future, but Virginia Tech won't let ECU get the 2016 game against the Hokies. Virginia Tech and Coach Fuente put on a show and make a statement against East Carolina. Hokies win 34-13.
Sat., Oct 1, 2016: Bye week. If it's possible for Tech to lose a bye week, it's happening here. The bye comes way too early this season, and it could come back to hurt the Hokies later in 2016.
Sat., Oct 8, 2016: at North Carolina. This is one of the tougher games for the Hokies. UNC had a potent offense last season, which resulted in UNC winning 11 straight games before falling to Clemson and Baylor. Tech will play hard against the Tar Heels, who stole Beamer's final home game. With revenge on their minds, they keep it close against the talented Tar Heels. Foster finds a way to confuse the UNC offense, but the Tech offense just can't score enough points to win this one. UNC finds a way to win the game on its final drive, though. Tar Heels win 28-24.
Sat., Oct 15, 2016: at Syracuse. VT's return to the Carrier Dome may bring up some bad memories and struggles. When the Hokies played there with quarterback Michael Vick, they struggled before finally putting the game away. Will the Hokies see shades of Orange in New York? I see the Hokies winning a low scoring affair against the Orange. Hokies win Fuente's first ACC road game 17-14.
Thu., Oct 20, 2016: at home against Miami. This game is one that ESPN really wanted to broadcast: Fuente versus Richt (and his first Thursday Night game in Lane Stadium). The short turnaround is tough for both teams here - but Miami probably got the worst of it with their schedule. The atmosphere in Lane on Thursday is second-to-none, which propels the Hokies to a big win over rival Miami. Hokies win 38-34.
Thu., Oct 27, 2016: at Pittsburgh. Virginia Tech hasn't played well in NFL stadiums - which is where Pittsburgh plays (Heinz Field). Virginia Tech struggled mightily the last time they visited Pitt (scored 16 points), which is something they don't want to repeat. Tech will need to place a heavy focus on running the ball if they want to win this game on the road (ideally around 180 yards on the ground to come out with a victory). I just don't see that happening for the Hokies. Pittsburgh wins another close game against the Hokies 21-17.
Sat., Nov 5, 2016: at Duke. The last meeting against the Blue Devils resulted in a 4OT marathon of a game, which the Hokies eventually lost. Duke had a solid team last year, but faded after the victory of Virginia Tech. Duke is a well-coached team; one that doesn't make many mistakes. The Hokies will need to force Duke into a couple turnovers here, but VT shouldn't struggle against Duke this season. Hokies don't let the Blue Devils get a winning streak against them. VT wins 34-21.
Sat., Nov 12, 2016: at home against Georgia Tech. This is the game that used to decide the winner of the ACC Coastal, but both teams have had trouble of late. Georgia Tech failed to meet expectations last season - and eventually didn't even qualify for a bowl game. Virginia Tech has done a good job of stopping the triple-option. Ball control is always a factor when playing against the Yellow Jackets, and the Hokies will need to win the TOP battle. By now the Hokies will have long-since had a clear #1 rusher - so look for him to run the ball frequently. Hokies beat the Yellow Jackets 37-28.
Sat., Nov 19, 2016: at Notre Dame. This will be the first matchup between the Hokies and Fighting Irish since ND "joined" the ACC. This is rather late in the year for the Hokies to have a non-conference game, especially one of this magnitude. This will be a good test for the Hokies against a good (if healthy) ND team. Tech's bye-week was really early in the season, which comes back to bite the tired Hokies here. The Fighting Irish beat the Hokies. I see this game being Tech's biggest loss of the year, with ND a 34-21 winner.
Sat., Nov 26, 2016: at home against UVA. Beamer won the last twelve games of his career against the Wahoos, something that the team and new head coach Justin Fuente will not let come to a stop. The Commonwealth Cup will continue to reside in Blacksburg, with the Hokies winning big against UVA. The overwhelms the Cavaliers, winning by a comfortable margin of 41-21. Fuente starts off his Tech career 1-0 against his in-state rivals.
I see Tech a solid 8-4 (6-2 ACC) in Fuente's first season. This won't be quite good enough for the Hokies to win the Coastal, with the losses to UNC and Pitt being the difference. Fuente will continue the Hokies nation-leading bowl streak.
What are your thoughts on the schedule? Did the ACC do Tech any favors?
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