2016-17 Football Previews – (ACC) – Hokies
Looking for 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies predictions? Beamer-Ball is no more in Blacksburg. It is kind of sad but he had a really good run and things were just not the same for the program over the last 5 seasons as the ACC got tougher. Now they enter a new era and it will be interesting to see if it can come anything close to the good old days of Michael Vick, yes that sentence actually does make sense in the context of Hokies football.
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Virginia Tech Hokies
2015/16 Record: 7-6
Head Coach: Justin Fuente
Virginia Tech Hokies
Odds to win ACC: +1400
Odds to win National Championship: +30000
Win Total: 6.5
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Virginia Tech Hokies Handicapping
The reality of the program is that they were never really supposed to be big winners but led by Beamer they knew who they were and never backed down.
New head coach Justin Fuente takes over the team on the heels of some pretty great work at Memphis.
I am definitely optimistic about what he can do at Virginia Tech but at the same time it is not like his track record with the Tigers goes back all that long.
He is going to install a more “modern” high tempo attack while letting Bud Foster continue to lead the defense.
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At this stage I have to say I am much more confident in the latter. Fuente still has to find a QB who has run the system.
Virginia Tech Hokies Predictions: Team Strengths
They may not have a quarterback, yet, but Fuente has some skill talent to plug into his attack.
Last season RB Travon McMillan rushed for more than 1000 yards as a freshman and he has the build to pound the rock even more.
At receiver, Isaiah Ford is one of the best in the ACC, with more than 1100 yards last season while quarterbacks were shutting in and out.
TE Bucky Hodges is a monster target at 6’7” who is getting better every season.
On defense they have some work to do up front but 3 starters return from a secondary unit that yielded less than 200ypg through the air a year ago.
As does leading sacker Ken Ekanem off the edge. In an off season, the defense finished 59th in points allowed.
With some extra enthusiasm being pumped into the program and a more efficient offense in place it is easy to see how that group can be improved this season
Virginia Tech Hokies Predictions: Team Weaknesses
The offense will hinge on QB Jerod Evans. Though not as big as Paxton Lynch, who Fuente molded at Memphis, he is a toolsy player who is hoping that he has finally found a home.
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He was originally recruited to Texas and then went the JC route so he is far from a sure thing though.
As good as the pass defense was a year ago part of that success was because it was so easy to run on the Hokies – 75th in the nation and very uncharacteristic for Virginia Tech.
The defensive line has to be better and it will have three new starters.
Bud Foster is definitely one of the more accomplished defensive coordinators out there and he has to prove he can do it with new leadership in the HC office.
Transition is never easy, especially for a program that has had such consistent leadership.
Virginia Tech Hokies Prediction:
I like the Fuente hire but this program is more than a good hire from reaching the highs it did when it first joined the conference, they are miles behind the likes of Clemson and Florida State right now.
I have confidence that the defense can return to being good, probably not elite, but very good in the top 30 range. If the offense comes together quickly than that win total could be a breeze.
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The schedule is not too difficult as they avoid the aforementioned ACC superpowers and get Miami at home. I do not give them a great chance at North Carolina or Notre Dame but they can be in the hunt for a division title with a 6-2 conference record.
That win total is the way to play the Hokies in the future market. Even if they were to win their division, toppling Clemson or FSU seems very unlikely. If they get that far they will definitely have the wins you need to cash your ticket.
2016 Virginia Tech Hokies Football Schedule
- 9/3/16 12:30 PM ET LIB
- 9/10/16 8:00 PM ET TENN
- 9/17/16 3:30 PM ET BC
- 9/24/16 TBD ECU
- 10/8/16 TBD @UNC
- 10/15/16 TBD @SYR
- 10/20/16 7:00 PM ET MIA
- 10/27/16 7:00 PM ET @PITT
- 11/5/16 TBD @DUKE
- 11/12/16 TBD GT
- 11/19/16 4:30 PM ET @ND
- 11/26/16 TBD UVA
What do you think about our 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2016!
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