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Sons of Saturday Game Picks: Hokies Look to Rebound Against Boston College

By Mike McDaniel | October 17
Herbert ncstate
Courtesy: Zach Lantz

After a disappointing performance on the road last Saturday in Chapel Hill, the Hokies look to rebound on Saturday night at home against the 3-1 Boston College Eagles. In Hendon Hooker's first start of the season, will the Virginia Tech offense look more balanced? Can Tech recover after a poor defensive showing last week?

Let's see what the staff thinks...

Pat Finn

Virginia Tech 38 Boston College 31

Run the ball. Get to Phil. Win the game!

Billy Ray Mitchell

Virginia Tech 45 Boston College 31

Hokies reestablish their pass rush and finally get some rhythm on offense with the switch to Hendon Hooker. Hoping to see some familiar faces in the defensive backfield as well.

Mike McDaniel

Virginia Tech 34 Boston College 20

This should be the healthiest Virginia Tech has been defensively all year, and I believe it will show against a largely one-dimensional Boston College offense. I believe the Hokies defense will rebound and play better, forcing a couple turnovers to help the offense in Hendon Hooker's first start of 2020.

Adam Rothe

Virginia Tech 35 Boston College 21

For whatever reason when the Hokies play BC it's always closer than it really should be on paper. For example, Fuente has beaten the Eagles twice and lost to them twice. With Hendon Hooker scheduled to start, if the Hokie defense can manage to tackle even slightly better than last week and not get carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey, the Hokies should win the game. The Tech offense exploded with Hooker in the game last week when combined with Khalil Herbert's dominance on the ground. I want to see the Hokies blow the Eagles out, but games between these two teams recently are always closer than Hokie fans would like. Tech by two TDs.

Ryan Hartman

Virginia Tech 45 Boston College 28

Hokies go up big early and maintain a lead the whole game. I think BC can stay in this one because they have the weapons to do so but it's not enough as the Hokies have a better offensive attack.

Justin Cates

Virginia Tech 31 Boston College 28

I don't have a great read on this game, but it should be entertaining. BC appears energized by new coach Jeff Hafley and the Hokies have their starting quarterback situation settled once again with Hendon Hooker back in charge. I'm expecting a close game with a narrow Hokie win at home.

Robert Irby

Virginia Tech 38 Boston College 10

Remember how a frustrated and determined Virginia Tech team came out and punched NC State in the mouth earlier this season, putting the game out of reach early? Yeah, sorry BC, but you're about to be the Cowboy to the Hokies' McGregor. BC has a solid rushing defense, and they are certainly terrified of Khalil Herbert after what he did to them last season with Kansas. This will open the door for Hendon Hooker to make plays with both his legs and arm. Hooker will use this as an opportunity to fully cement himself as QB1 for the rest of the season, and the Eagles will be powerless to stop the freight train that is an angry VT football team.

Sam Jessee

Virginia Tech 48 Boston College 20

I really like the vibes of this team right now, and I think they're set up well for a bounce back game. A healthier defense should be able to handle a one-dimensional BC offense that's been pass heavy to start the season. How the Hokies can matchup against the electric WR Zay Flowers will be key, but I think Waller will be ready. Getting Hooker back at the helm, too, will really open up the offense. I think the Hokies fly away from the Eagles early in this one and don't look back.

Chris Himes

Virginia Tech 34 Boston College 27

Hokie Nation saw last week how the VT pass defense can be exploited which gives BC, who has an efficient play-action passing attack and two legit NFL caliber receiving options in WR Zay Flowers and TE Hunter Long, a template for how to attack the Hokie LBs and DBs. VT has the more talented and deeper roster but this game may be closer than many expect.

Brett Smith

Virginia Tech 42 Boston College 17

What some people don't realize last week: Virginia Tech won the game in the last three quarters. That bodes well for an upcoming revenge game with our guy behind center, Hendon Hooker. He brought life back into the team last week and I expect him to light it up this week against the Eagles. Now the glaring question is: what about the defense? I truly believe that the defense is considerably better than how they played last week and can keep Boston College (really Jurkovec and Flowers) to 20 or less.

Pat Rouleau

Virginia Tech 31 Boston College 17

I honestly don't know what my feelings are about this game but the performance in the last three quarters last week made me feel good about this team and the direction they are going. The Eagles have given us trouble the last two seasons but I do not foresee any issues this time around.

Ed Williams

Virginia Tech 45 Boston College 28

A more balanced offense paired with a (hopefully) full strength defense will lead the Hokies to a solid bounce back performance.

Ryan Wilkes

Virginia Tech 42 Boston College 38

The Hokies' defense was nothing short of abysmal last week, so it will be interesting to see how they contain the Jurkovec-Flowers combo. Tech's offense has proven they can score, so I see a shootout in Blacksburg.

Colin Gilley

Virginia Tech 38 Boston College 28

Hokies get off to a hot start with Hendon Hooker getting his first start of the season. Boston College stays in the game but never comes close to beating Virginia Tech. Hokies by a comfortable ten points.

Preston Huennekens

Virginia Tech 28 Boston College 17

This game will end up being a lot closer than many people think. Boston College was competitive in a 22-26 loss to North Carolina, and they beat Pitt 31-30. We'll be seeing a much different BC team than we're used to, with a greater focus on the passing game that has given our Hokies some trouble. Virginia Tech surged at the end against UNC, and I think that energy will come over into Saturday's game against BC. #Gokies 28-17.

Duncan Weigand

Virginia Tech 38 Boston College 24

As long as Hooker is starting I don't see how we don't win this one in a blowout.

Mike Mcd

Mike McDaniel

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As a first generation Hokie, I can't say that Virginia Tech has always been in my blood, but I can say unequivocally that I bleed maroon and orange now. I graduated from the Pamplin College of Business in 2015 with a double major in accounting and finance, and have parlayed that into a five-year career in government compliance consulting in the Washington D.C. metro area where I grew up. At Tech, I enjoyed going to as many sporting events as I could, playing four years for the Club Golf team, and realizing my passion for writing and creating content.


I have previously written for Gobbler Country on the SB Nation network, Fighting Gobbler for Fansided, InsideTheACC.com, The Tech Lunch Pail, and most recently for Sports Illustrated's All Hokies, where I was the lead publisher.


In addition to writing, I am also co-host of Basketball Conference: The ACC Football Podcast and the Hokie Hangover Podcast covering Virginia Tech athletics.


I'm passionate about Virginia Tech, but also hope to bring an objective and journalistic background to enhance the already fantastic athletic coverage here at Sons of Saturday.

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