The ACC has been a far more competitive conference than many thought coming into the season, and a big reason for this is the emergence of the two teams in this matchup.
The Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2) take their three-game win streak on the road, where the Syracuse Orange (5-2) will be waiting in desperate need of a bounce-back effort.
The game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET and can be streamed live on The CW.
Virginia Tech started the season off on the wrong foot with an upset loss to Vanderbilt. However, the Hokies have since found their footing, winning by double-digits against Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Stanford over the past three weeks.
However, the Orange presents a unique challenge for a relatively untested secondary.
Speaking of the Orange, they are glad to be home after a rough showing against Pittsburgh. Quarterback Kyle McCord turned from an orange to a pumpkin as he threw five interceptions in the loss.
The Hokies are 4-point favorites with a 53.5-point over/under.
Will the Hokies continue winning, or will the Orange bounce back at home? Perhaps both could happen in our angle for this matchup. Let's dive in for my Virginia Tech vs Syracuse prediction and college football picks for this NCAAF Week 10 matchup.
Virginia Tech vs Syracuse Preview and Prediction
My Virginia Tech vs Syracuse best bet is on the over 53.5, with the best available line at bet365 Sportsbook.
Virginia Tech vs Syracuse Odds, Betting Lines
| Virginia Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 54 -110 / -110 | -185 |
| Syracuse Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 54 -110 / -110 | +155 |
- Virginia Tech vs Syracuse Point Spread: Virginia Tech -4 (-110) · Syracuse +4(-110)
- Virginia Tech vs Syracuse Total: Over/Under 54
- Virginia Tech vs Syracuse Moneyline: Virginia Tech -185 · Syracuse +155
Virginia Tech Hokies vs Syracuse Orange College Football Game Preview
Why Virginia Tech Will Win: Dual Threat
The Hokies' offense has been dynamic since Kyron Drones took the reins in 2023. The dual-threat quarterback can beat defenses through the air or on the ground.
We should see him lead the Hokies' offense to success in both facets, as the Syracuse defense has struggled to get off the field. The Orange come into this matchup ranked 108th nationally in yards per rush allowed and 129th in opponent completion percentage.
The struggles against the rush will be evident against Virginia Tech, as the Hokies have run the ball at the 28th-highest rate in the country. Much of that ground-and-pound damage will come from running back Bhayshul Tuten.
Tuten has been a machine on the ground, averaging 6.7 yards per carry and reaching paydirt 12 times already. It should be noted that Tuten is questionable for this matchup at the time of writing, but he returned to practice on Wednesday, so he is trending in the right direction.
However, the Hokies' offensive success in this matchup will not be limited to the ground. We went over the high number of completions that Syracuse has allowed, but they also rank 70th nationally in yards per pass allowed, which culminates in a rank of 112th in Pass Success Rate allowed.
Why Syracuse Will Win: Untested Secondary
I touched upon Kyle McCord's struggles in the open, but given how much he's thrived in this system, I'm considering last week an outlier performance.
McCord has led an elite passing attack. The Orange rank 16th nationally in Pass Success Rate despite throwing the ball at the second-highest rate.
On paper, the Hokies look to be a tough matchup for McCord and company, as they rank ninth in opponent completion percentage allowed and 49th in yards per pass allowed.
Still, Virginia Tech's secondary has been largely untested.
Just 44% of the plays ran against the Hokies have been passed, and the last elite passing attack they faced, the Miami Hurricanes, torched them for 343 yards and four scores through the air.
Another notch against the Hokies secondary is their Pro Football Focus Coverage grade. They enter this matchup ranked 107th nationally, suggesting they have been fortunate not to have allowed more through the air.
This will all help Syracuse look strong in his matchup and help them match the Hokies on the scoreboard.
Virginia Tech vs Syracuse Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Virginia Tech and Syracuse match up statistically:
Virginia Tech Offense vs. Syracuse Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 81 | 46 | |
| Line Yards | 79 | 72 | |
| Pass Success | 94 | 112 | |
| Havoc | 114 | 41 | |
| Finishing Drives | 30 | 83 | |
| Quality Drives | 97 | 92 | |
Syracuse Offense vs. Virginia Tech Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 95 | 64 | |
| Line Yards | 116 | 62 | |
| Pass Success | 16 | 38 | |
| Havoc | 49 | 35 | |
| Finishing Drives | 65 | 7 | |
| Quality Drives | 18 | 23 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 10 | 118 |
| PFF Coverage | 107 | 62 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 21 | 106 |
| Middle 8 | 18 | 58 |
| Seconds per Play | 27.0 (59) | 26.0 (43) |
| Rush Rate | 59% (32) | 38% (134) |
Virginia Tech vs Syracuse Prediction, Betting Lines
This total may look suspicious initially, but getting it under the key number 54 is excellent.
We've seen both teams involved in high-scoring matchups, and both offenses profile for success in this one.
The key to this overcoming will be the efficiency of the Syracuse offense. The Hokies will put points on the board but can be more methodical on the ground. It will be up to McCord to strike back relatively quickly through the air.
Pick: Over 54 (-110, bet365)
Virginia Tech vs Syracuse How To Watch and Game Preview
| Location: | JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY |
| Date: | Saturday, Nov. 2 |
| Kickoff Time: | 12 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | The CW |
Virginia Tech vs Syracuse will be played at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York, on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12 p.m. ET. You can stream the game live on The CW.
