Virginia Tech at Old Dominion: Preview and Prediction

Saturday, September 14th

Virginia Tech (-15) @ Old Dominion (+15); o/u49.5

6:00 pm ET

ESPN+

Head Coach: Ricky Rahne (4th year)

Returning production: 70% (22nd in the nation)

2023 record: 6-7

Last time out for ODU: 20-14 L to ECU

Offensively, the Monarchs lean on senior speedster WR Isiah Paige. Paige, the 5’8” Richmond native leads the Monarchs through the air, totalling 131 yards on ten receptions. Throwing to Paige is the incumbent Grant Wilson, who is not having a great year thus far. Wilson struggled at times last year as well. The Monarchs are not much of a threat through the air, and it should especially be limited against Virginia Tech's talented corner room. Myles Alston, a Virginia Beach native, and Diante Vines will both be targets who Wilson looks for as well. It’s a pretty small WR room in size, Alston, Vines, and Paige are all under 6’2”.

On the ground, the Monarchs are relying on leading rusher Aaron Young and former Virginia Tech RB Bryce Duke. Most of the offensive success that the Monarchs have found has been on the ground. It is pivotal that Virginia Tech stops the run, because once ODU gets into a rhythm and starts to gain time of possession, they can hang around. It happened just two weeks ago in South Carolina. Inferior teams go into games having an objective of controlling the clock and lingering around. If its a one score game going into the fourth quarter, who knows what could happen. It has happened to the Hokies twice in Norfolk, and the Hokies left both times with an L.

Key Matchup Battle: Virginia Tech’s LBs vs. ODU’s RBs

Defensively, the Monarchs are headlined by All-American LB Jason Henderson. Henderson is truly one of the best LBs in the nation. A year ago, Henderson led FBS with 14 (!!) tackles per game. He also had 19.5 TFL a year ago, good for fourth in the nation. This ODU defense is very solid. In addition to their milk the clock running game, their defense has put them in position to beat both South Carolina and ECU, holding both opponents to 23 and 20 points respectively. Henderson did not play a week ago – he suffered a knee injury last year, but he will truly be a difference maker if he suits up on Saturday. Hendersons replacement, Koa Naotala, filled in for Henderson well last week, totaling 18 tackles. Joining Henderson and Naotala in the LB room is Mario Thompson, another Richmond native, who leads the team with two sacks on the year. Thompson was all over the place in ODU’s week one game at South Carolina. ODU’s LB room is one of the more impressive units on this entire team. They will run sideline to sideline and beat you on the edges, something the Hokies have struggled with offensively this year. 

The Monarchs have decent size on the D-Line, headlined by 6’5” DE Kris Trinidad. DT Denzel Lowry alongside Trinidad lead this line, but have not been huge threats this far. Most of the Monarchs TFL have come from the LBs or the defensive backfield. The safeties are small but smart – and ballhawks. The 5’10” tandem of Patrick Smith-Young and Jahron Manning have accounted for 30 tackles and three interceptions. Virginia Tech can take advantage on the outside though, and need to give Ali Jennings and Da’Quan Felton opportunities to make plays. 

This ODU team is filled with Virginia guys who want to claim the state. The Monarchs have already done it twice to the Hokies, and they are not shying away at all. ODU is not scared of Virginia Tech. The Hokies need to go into Norfolk with a ‘foot on your neck mindset.’ And it has to be from the start too. If Virginia Tech lets the Monarchs hang around, it’s anyone's game to win. The Hokies must spread the field and capitalize on field position – scoring TDs, not FGs. Anytime the Hokies cross the 50, it needs to result in 7. Point, blank, period. 

Go in with a silly mindset, leave with a silly result. 

But, the Hokies will finally leave Norfolk with a W. 

Old Dominion 18 - Virginia Tech 34