With three weeks until kickoff, why not look ahead to the 2022 Virginia Tech football season and predict every game? This is a very interesting year for the Hokies. With a new head coach and a new staff, the players are adjusting to new schemes. And with so many players gone from key positions last year, there has been some shuffling on the roster. How will the players gel? How quickly will they learn – and execute – the schemes? The quicker they do, the better they’ll be.
With an ACC Coastal slate and an unimpressive non-conference schedule, there is opportunity for the Hokies. As mentioned in my previous article, most, if not all of the games are winnable. Although unlikely, 9-3 is not out of the question. However, 4-8 is a possibility too. If the players can compete, execute, protect the football, and stay healthy, there is no reason Virginia Tech can’t go bowling this year.
So let’s take a look at the Hokies’ 2022 schedule and predict where they will finish:
Virginia Tech at Old Dominion, September 2
Just the thought of playing at Old Dominion conjures up bad memories for Hokie fans. Their last trip to Norfolk in 2018 ended in disaster, with an embarrassing 49-35 loss. Virginia Tech lost its quarterback for the season, they finished the year with their first losing record in a quarter century, and the transfer portal exodus began in earnest. It was arguably the beginning of the end for the Justin Fuente era. This year’s Monarch team will look for another upset, and they have the experience on offense and the playmakers on defense to do just that. But the Hokies’ roster is just more talented, and if they bring their A-game, they should board the bus with a win. Tech will probably keep a simple playbook and try to establish the run and utilize the tight ends. A late play action score to Kaleb Smith helps put this one away. Pry and company exorcise some demons here and start the season on a positive note. Virginia Tech 27 – Old Dominion 13
Boston College at Virginia Tech, September 10
Anticipation will be high for the home opener. Maybe not as high as last season’s opener, but Hokie fans are excited about Brent Pry’s program. The crowd will be juiced. That bodes well, as the last time Boston College visited Lane Stadium, they turned the ball over five times in a 40-14 loss. BC will be a formidable threat this year, with fifth year senior quarterback Phil Jurkovec leading the way. Jurkovec is no longer the “Notre Dame transfer.” He is the face of the BC offense and will look to improve his NFL draft stock. He is throwing to one of the league’s best receivers in senior Zay Flowers. Behind Jurkovec is 1,000-yard rusher Pat Garwo. Although the line has a lot of new faces, those three players will be a great challenge for the Hokies. Lane Stadium will be loud, but the Eagles escape with the victory. Boston College 20 – Virginia Tech 13
Wofford at Virginia Tech, September 17
FCS opponent Wofford squares off against Virginia Tech for the first time ever. The biggest question is if Tech basketball coach Mike Young will be in attendance to watch his current school play his former school. This one should be over by the end of the first quarter, and the students might still be on Center Street since this is an 11 am kickoff. However, Tech will probably use this game to give the first and second teamers much needed game reps. The early kickoff and the lackluster crowd could aid in a slow start, but Tech is just too much for the Terriers to handle. Malachi Thomas runs for 100, Connor Blumrick shows his versatility, and the defense scores the first non-offensive touchdown of the year. Virginia Tech 37 – Wofford 3
West Virginia at Virginia Tech, Thursday, September 22
The Hokies return to Thursday night! The Black Diamond Trophy is back up for grabs. This one will be hostile! Last year’s loss at Morgantown is still on the Hokies’ minds. Three trips inside the ten-yard line yielded no points for Virginia Tech as they lost by six. But don’t sleep on West Virginia’s offense. Georgia transfer JT Daniels is expected to be the signal caller. Daniels has thrown for almost 5000 yards and 32 touchdowns in his career. He will be protected by five returning starters on the line. Among them is former Hokie Doug Nester. Virginia Tech flipped the four-star Nester from Ohio State, then lost him to the portal after only two years. You can bet he will have his linemen amped up for this one. But this is a rivalry game – anything can happen! The winner will likely be the team with fewer turnovers, better special teams, and more explosive plays. That will be Tech, and the Thursday night home crowd will rush the field. Hokie fans, your couches will be safe again. Virginia Tech 24 – West Virginia 20
Virginia Tech at North Carolina, October 1
This is probably the toughest game to predict. UNC lost Sam Howell to the NFL, and Drake Maye and Jacolby Crowell might split time at the quarterback position. Junior Josh Downs is a real threat at wide receiver, but will the line provide enough time for the ball to get to him? Gene Chizik returns as defensive coordinator and he has seven starters to work with. However, Virginia Tech is 14-4 versus Carolina since joining the ACC in 2004. They are 7-2 at Keenan Stadium. My heart tells me to lean on those stats and pick the Hokies. But my head tells me that an eight-win season is a maroon-tinted view of the schedule. I hope I’m wrong but…North Carolina 21 – Virginia Tech 20
Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, October 8
This begins the toughest stretch of the season. The Hokies visit the venue formerly known as Heinz Field in hopes that the new name (Acrisure Stadium) will help turn the tide in this rivalry. After opening the series with seven wins in the first eight meetings, the Hokies have lost nine of the last thirteen. The Panthers have won three of the last four meetings, taking the Hokies behind the woodshed in the last two game in the Steel City, winning by a combined score of 99-36. The Panthers put up a whopping 1110 total yards in those two games. With USC transfer and former PAC 12 freshman of the year Kedon Slovis at the helm, Pitt looks to pick up where Pickett left off. They still have an old team and they return 14 starters. They still play a very physical brand of football. This is just a bad matchup for the Hokies. Pittsburgh 30 – Virginia Tech 14
Miami at Virginia Tech, October 15
The U is back! How many times have you heard that since Jimmy Johnson left Coral Gables? If you believe the media, then former ‘Cane Mario Cristobal will indeed have Miami playing for the ACC crown in December. This year they have the quarterback to do it. Sophomore Tyler Van Dyke has an NFL arm and senior Will Mallory is yet another in a long list of great Miami tight ends. The wide receivers are young, and so is the defense. If those two units can produce, this team will be good. The ACC Coastal is a two-pony race between Miami and Pitt. All other games are side notes to that matchup. For today at least, the U is back. Miami 31 – Virginia Tech 21
Virginia Tech at North Carolina State, October 27
After a bye week, the Hokies travel to Raleigh for the first time since 2010. This will be the toughest environment for Tech. North Carolina State fans are rabid, and a home Thursday night contest will make Carter-Finley Stadium sound like Lane Stadium of the early 2000’s. As if the raucous crowd isn’t enough, the Hokies face a team that will challenge Clemson for the Atlantic Division title. Junior quarterback Devin Leary threw for over 3500 yards last year. He had 35 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He will be difficult to contain. The Wolfpack lost a few major contributors in their top two running backs and their top wide receiver. They also lost the anchor to their line, 6th overall draft pick Ikem Ekwonu. But they return nine starters on defense. Leary and that defense – and that crowd – will be tough to overcome. The Hokies’ five game win streak over the Wolfpack comes to an end. NC State 34 – Virginia Tech 17
Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech, November 5
After an Oh-fer-October, the Hokies get just what the doctor ordered – a pair of Coastal Division cellar dwellers. First up is Georgia Tech. With a very difficult schedule, the Wramblin’ Wreck will limp into Lane Stadium with no more than two wins (maybe one, if they lose to the other division bottom-feeder Duke). After three years of rebuilding from Paul Johnson’s triple option, the transfer portal was not kind to Georgia Tech. With only five total starters returning, Geoff Collins has to rebuild his rebuild. A few players came in through the portal, but the Yellow Jackets are looking at another tough year. And the Hokies badly need this win. Virginia Tech 31 – Georgia Tech 13
Virginia Tech at Duke, November 12
New head coach Mike Elko should restore Duke to respectability, but they are a few years away from that goal. The Blue Devils have one ACC win in the past two seasons. They were last in the league in both scoring offense and scoring defense in 2021. They lost their starting quarterback, their top rusher, and their top receiver. To add insult to injury, Tech fans will fill up those empty seats in Wallace Wade Stadium, making it seem like a home game. Look for Tech’s Grant Wells to light up the young Duke secondary in this one. Kaleb Smith, Nick Gallo, Connor Blumrick, and Da’Wain Lofton combine for four touchdowns in a rout. Virginia Tech 41 – Duke 14
Virginia Tech at Liberty, November 19
Like the ODU game, this one also brings nightmares to Tech fans. Flash back to Lane Stadium in 2020…After tying the game at 35 with under a minute to play, Tech allows Liberty to cross midfield. With 4th and 6 from the Tech 42 and 0:08 on the clock, Liberty lines up for a 59-yard field goal. Beamerball makes a rare return and the Hokies block the kick! Jermaine Waller scoops up the ball and returns it 50 yards for the walk-off win!!! But wait…Justin Fuente called time-out to ice the kicker! The play doesn’t count! Liberty brings Malik Willis back on the field and he throws a quick eight-yard out, well under the VT prevent defense. With the clock stopped at five seconds, Liberty brings its kicker back out and he nails the stunning game winner as time expires.
Malik Willis is off to the NFL, and Liberty only returns three starters on offense. The Hokies should exact revenge this year, no? In the immortal words of Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend.” Sixth-year senior quarterback Charlie Brewer makes his way to Lynchburg from Baylor via Utah. Yes, that Charlie Brewer. The one with over 10,000 career passing yards. The one who has the same moxie as his brother Michael (who guided Virginia Tech to that improbable victory over Ohio State at the ‘Shoe). The younger Brewer will test Virginia Tech’s secondary, and this will be a game. Like the last meeting, it comes down to the wire. But the good guys prevail and Tech becomes bowl eligible. Virginia Tech 38 – Liberty 31
Virginia at Virginia Tech, November 26
What Thanksgiving weekend wouldn’t be complete without downing your share of turkey? If you’re a Wahoo though, the mere sight of that Thanksgiving Turkey makes your stomach turn. Since 1999, the Hokies have owned this series, winning 21 of the last 23 meetings. That run includes a 15-game winning streak from 2004 to 2018! Virginia will lean on the very dangerous senior quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who threw for almost 4500 yards last year. Returning at wide receiver are the talented duo of Dontayvion Wicks and Billy Kemp IV. They also have 6’5” “athlete” Keytaon Thompson, and it will be fun to watch who is used more creatively – him or Tech’s 6’5” “athlete” Connor Blumrick. UVa’s defense, however, was a sieve last year, and the top playmakers from that dismal squad are gone. This should be another wild rivalry week game. It’s time to pull out all the stops – maybe another Philly Special? Maybe NOT another tackle eligible pass? Sorry BooHoos, no Turkey for you again. Tech extends the streak to three straight over their in-state rivals. Virginia Tech 30 – Virginia 27
With a 7-5 record, the Hokies will go bowling again. Expect a Military Bowl bid vs an AAC opponent. As long as the team stays healthy and develops as the season goes on, Hokie fans should be satisfied. It’s a step in the right direction for Brent Pry in his first year as he looks to rebuild the program.
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