Sons of Saturday Game Picks: Welcome to Hate Week
In an unexpected trying season for the Virginia Tech Hokies on the field, there is still something to play for: The Commonwealth Cup. Nothing else matters when 4-6 Virginia Tech takes the field against 5-4 Virginia in Lane Stadium on Saturday night.
Can the Hokies reclaim the Cup? Let's get into some picks
Mike McDaniel
Virginia 21 Virginia Tech 17
This game should be very competitive once again, as it has been several times over the last decade or so. Truthfully, I think the wrong team is favored - just given what I've watched from both teams over the last several weeks. I think this game will likely be inside a touchdown either direction, but I think it will also be a bit lower scoring that most think. I think Virginia holds onto the Commonwealth Cup for the second year in a row with a narrow win over the Hokies...I expect Brennan Armstrong to have a huge night for the Cavaliers.
Adam Rothe
Virginia 20 Virginia Tech 17
Hopefully this will be Justin Fuente's last game in Blacksburg. While I want nothing more than to beat UVA, if the last month or so has proven anything it is that this coaching staff is ill-prepared to put the student-athletes in the right position to win. If the Hokies get the ball with a minute left before halftime, down by a TD, with all three timeouts, and Fuente still decides to pack it in against a hated rival, I will need an on-air firing during halftime, which should've happened last week and the multiple weeks before. I just want this season to end and sadly I think UVA will go back-to-back to cap off 2020 with another historical atrocity in the Justin Fuente Hokie legacy book.
Konnor Kilgore
Virginia Tech 28 Virginia 24
If Justin Fuente wants to have any chance at keeping his job, he may want to find a way to beat UVA. I don't have as much confidence in Fuente leading us to victory as I do the seniors putting this team on their back and avenging last years loss in Charlottesville. Tech has never lost to UVA at home in my lifetime, and they'll keep it that way with a narrow victory.
Justin Cates
Virginia Tech 28 Virginia 24
Apologies to Konnor but I can assure you there is video evidence that I arrived at the same score earlier in the week. This game means a lot and the Hokies desperately want that cup back. That Cavaliers are the better team, but Tech will be more motivated. Virginia hasn’t won in Blacksburg since the epic comeback in 1998, and this year will be no different.
Pat Rouleau
Virginia Tech 21 Virginia 17
We're getting the cup back.
Preston Huennekens
Virginia 35 Virginia Tech 10
When it rains, it pours! The wheels are coming off folks, and Justin Fuente will bottom out at home against our biggest rival.
Chris Himes
Virginia Tech 31 Virginia 27
To the laymen, this is a matchup between Tech’s rushing game versus UVA’s stifling run defense as well as VT’s ability to contain QB Brennan Armstrong. But if you look closer, there is a huge opportunity for Tech’s downfield throwing capability (21 passes of 30+ yards, ranking them Top 15 in that metric) versus UVA’s atrocious secondary, meaning it could be a huge day for Tre Turner or James Mitchell, which may be the deciding factor against a close game with the 'Hoos.
Grant Mitchell
Virginia Tech 35 Virginia 31
As lopsided as the Clemson result was, the first half was extremely tight. The Hokies demonstrated an ability to go toe-to-toe defensively with the nation's most feared attack, headlined by Divine Deablo's end zone interception. A steady dose of the run game combined with pressure from Jarrod Hewitt and other Hokie pass rushers will be the key to bringing the Commonwealth Cup back to Virginia Tech.
Ryan Wilkes
Virginia Tech 28 Virginia 20
As we have learned time and time again, rivalry games are different and that will prove to be evident Saturday. The more talented Hokies will impose their will against the struggling secondary of UVA and the Hokies will get the cup back.
Ed Williams
Virginia Tech 24 Virginia 20
Justin Hamilton's defense has been playing much better recently. While the Hokies QB situation is a huge unknown, I think Khalil Herbert will be able to find a high level of success on the ground and much like earlier in the year, carry the Hokies to a W.
Robert Irby
Virginia Tech 34 Virginia 24
Helloooooooo optimism! Boy, I missed you. This team has given me no reason to be optimistic, but the matchup is just too good against the Hoos. Many of the problems that have lead to this four-game losing streak should not be issues against this less-than-stellar UVA defense. There is just something about this rivalry, and I believe this will be the type of big game the Hokies usually play motivated for. Commonwealth Cup, you're coming home.
