Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-1 ACC) is set to compete against Syracuse (5-2, 2-2) this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, airing on The CW. The current betting odds from BetMGM show Virginia Tech favored by 3.5 points. Historically, the series between the two teams favors Syracuse, which holds an 11-9 lead.
What makes this matchup crucial is the trajectory both teams are on. After overcoming a rough start to the season, Virginia Tech has secured three consecutive victories, beginning to resemble the championship contender many predicted at the season’s outset. With only one loss in the conference, they are still in contention for the top position. In contrast, Syracuse is reeling from a significant 41-13 defeat against Pittsburgh and looks to recover as they navigate through the rest of the season under first-year head coach Fran Brown. Additionally, Syracuse has struggled in November since joining the ACC, managing only a 12-32 record, leading to a pressing need to change their fortunes this time around.
A critical area to watch will be Virginia Tech’s secondary, which is set to face a Syracuse receiving corps bolstered by the return of Oronde Gadsden II. He was sidelined during the latter part of the Pitt game after taking a hard hit. For Syracuse to find success, the offensive line will need to provide quarterback Kyle McCord with adequate protection and create space for leading rusher LeQuint Allen. Last week, McCord experienced significant pressure that hampered his performance, while Allen was limited to a mere 32 yards on 15 attempts.
Key players in this matchup include Virginia Tech’s defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who has been a dominant force on the field. He leads the ACC, averaging 1.5 sacks per game alongside 11 tackles for loss, potentially posing a serious threat to Syracuse’s offensive line. On the Syracuse side, McCord will be a player to keep an eye on, particularly after a challenging outing against Pitt, where he threw five interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. He completed only 58% of his passes, marking the lowest completion rate of his collegiate career.
As for some interesting statistics, Virginia Tech stands out as one of just four teams in the top half of the ACC for both scoring defense and offense. The Hokies’ setbacks this season have all been narrow, with a total margin of just 14 points across three losses. They also lead in the conference for rushing yards, averaging 209.3 yards per game. Conversely, Syracuse has had limited success in November, achieving a winning record only twice since joining the ACC and going winless on four occasions. Noteworthy is McCord’s achievement of becoming the first Orange quarterback to surpass seven 300-yard passing games in one season, contributing to a total of 2,481 passing yards—an all-time high for a Syracuse quarterback within the first seven games of a season. However, Syracuse’s ground game is struggling, ranking 127th nationally and 14th in the ACC.