Game Preview: Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech (2-4, 1-1 ACC) Georgia Tech (5-0, 2-0 ACC)
Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (Atlanta, Ga.)
Date and Time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Spread: Georgia Tech -14.5, O/U 54 (as of Friday morning)
TV: ACC Network, ESPN Mobile App, ESPN.com/watch
Broadcast Team: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Steve Addazio (Analyst), Dana Boyle (Sideline reporter)
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan/SiriusXM 137 or 193/GT Yellow Jackets Mobile App
Radio Team: Andy Demetra (play-by-play), Andrew Gardner (Analyst), Chris Mooneyham (Sideline reporter)
Series History: Virginia Tech leads 12-8
Series Streak: No streak, Virginia Tech won the last one
Last Meeting: Virginia Tech won 21-6 on Oct. 26, 2024 at Virginia Tech
Last Week: Georgia Tech was idle after a 30-29 win in overtime at Wake Forest on Sept. 27; Virginia Tech lost 30-23 at home vs. Wake Forest
Stat Comparison): Points per game (Georgia Tech 37, Virginia Tech 23.5), Points allowed per game (Georgia Tech 21.2, Virginia Tech 28.3), Total offense (Georgia Tech 476 yards per game, Virginia Tech 357.8 yards per game), Total defense (Georgia Tech 356.6 yards allowed per game, Virginia Tech 355.2 yards allowed per game)
GEORGIA TECH Key Offensive Players: Haynes King (QB, RS-Sr.), Jamal Haynes (RB, RS-Sr.), Keylan Rutledge (RG, Sr.)
VIRGINIA TECH Key Offensive Players: Kyron Drones (QB, RS-Sr.), Terion Stewart (RB, Gr-Sr.)*Questionable on the injury report, Donavon Green (WR, Gr-Sr.)
GEORGIA TECH Key Defensive Players: Jordan van den Berg (DL, RS-Sr.), EJ Lightsey (LB, RS-Jr.), Omar Daniels (FS, RS-Sr.)
VIRGINIA TECH Key Defensive Players: Kemari Copeland (DL, RS-Jr.), Kaleb Spencer (LB, Jr.), Isaiah Brown-Murray (CB, RS-Jr.)
Game Preview Analysis
It’s been said many times over the years that the scariest team to face is a team with nothing to lose. That could very well be the case for Georgia Tech on Saturday afternoon as the Jackets get ready to welcome a Virginia Tech squad that is 2-4, now being led by an interim head coach (Philip Montgomery) after the firing of Brent Pry a few weeks ago and looking for anything positive to salvage what many Hokies’ fans already consider a lost season.
Georgia Tech, on the other hand, should be well-rested coming off an idle week after a gutsy comeback win in overtime at Wake Forest a couple Saturdays ago. The Jackets are 5-0 and as head coach Brent Key said earlier this week are ready to protect what they’ve already done to this point of the season. The first test ahead is the previously-mentioned Virginia Tech Hokies, who appeared to be turning a corner in their season a few weeks ago with a win at NC State but then came back down to Earth last weekend in a loss to Wake Forest.
Despite its unbeaten start, Georgia Tech’s coaches and players would likely tell you they haven’t played anywhere near their full capability, going through stretches of inconsistency on both offense and defense over the first five games (with special teams clearly being the most steady of the three phases to this point). So the bye week came at a perfect time to get things cleaned up before this next stretch of four straight ACC games leading up to the second bye week.
The Jackets are the clear favorite going into Saturday’s game as displayed by the more than a two-touchdown spread, but this series has produced some very close games over the last decade and a half, even when one or the other wasn’t in the midst of a big season. That bodes well for the Hokies, who have been searching for anything to build on in 2025.
Offensively, Virginia Tech has been inconsistent at best as quarterback Kyron Drones has seemed to regress in his redshirt-senior season while the rushing game has been the biggest weapon so far led by Bowling Green transfer Terion Stewart, who is questionable for this Saturday’s game after suffering an injury vs. Wake Forest last week. Even if Stewart is unable to go, the Hokies should have enough depth and talent at running back to make up for that loss, but the problem is the offensive line in front of them has been banged up and shifted around as well with several different combinations over the team’s first six games.
With that in mind, Georgia Tech’s defense should be looking forward to the chance to create some havoc as quarterback pressures and turnovers forced has been an area that unit has come up short of expectations over the first five games. This is the chance to break out. Will the Jackets make the most of it?
On the other side of the ball, Virginia Tech has shown the susceptibility to strong running games by opposing offenses. That bodes well for the Jackets who will always try to set the tone in games with their physicality and toughness with the run game. Tech’s offensive line and running backs Jamal Haynes and Malachi Hosley didn’t have their best efforts against Wake Forest a couple weeks ago so they should be chomping at the bit to get back out on the field and make up for it.
If Georgia Tech can get that running game going early, that could open up the opportunity for play action passes and deep shots down the field that Haynes King and company have had several near misses on in the first five games.
Another big factor could be the health of the two teams as Georgia Tech enters the contest relatively full strength (other than co-starter at defensive tackle Akelo Stone and a few others being out) while Virginia Tech’s list of injuries is a column and a half long on the ACC’s player availability report. The Hokies can’t afford many more injuries because they are already very thin, especially on the defensive side.
All things are lining up for the home team to have a big day coming out of the bye week. It’s been a while since Georgia Tech comfortably won vs. an ACC opponent. Could this be the one? We shall see on Saturday afternoon in front of what should be a big, loud and energetic crowd on The Flats.
Alex Farrer Score Prediction: Georgia Tech wins, 38-17.
Kelly Quinlan Score Prediction: Georgia Tech wins, 33-24.
