Trust the Process:

I’ll be using a standard format across all Chop’s Takes:

1. I’ll take a look at the returning production (keeping in mind the evaluation of talent applicable to each ACC Program) and compare to each team they face on their schedule.
2. I’ll look at the opponent faced the week before, that game’s final score, and days passed before the current game being evaluated.
3. I’ll take a look at the opponent the ACC team faces after the present game, considering look-ahead games and rivalries, and days separating that game from the present.
4. I’ll weigh advantages of home versus away games for each game.
5. Where possible, I’ll take into consideration potential weather considerations (not Hurricanes or other natural disasters but rather seasonal conditions).

Virginia Tech’s 2018 Football Schedule:

Florida State (Monday September 3rd, 2018 at 8:00 P.M. EST away)

Television: ESPN

Previous Game: N/A

Following Game: Samford (September 8th, 2018 7:20 P.M. EST at home on ACC Network Extra)

Prediction: Virginia Tech LOSS

Is this a homer move on my part? I don’t believe so. Allow me to explain, Hokie Nation. My understanding is that VT’s off-season has gone everywhere but according to plan. The defense is thinning at a rate not initially anticipated. Justin Fuente will be earning his pay on defense, as I continuously hear over the air waves. The game is prime-time Monday night coverage on Labor Day weekend. FSU was heartbroken after a devastating 2017 campaign that began with a fallen Quarter Back and ended with a National Championship winning head coach fleeing for the green in College Station. The fandom has a savior in Willie Taggart, a long-time FSU fan growing up as well as an up-and-coming head coach with a penchant for rebuilding Football programs. He runs a slick, swift, and simple offense, and has a charming personality that pulls top recruits across the country to his teams. While Willie and Justin have faced-off while at their stints at USF and Memphis (Justin Fuente leads Willie 3-0), the caliber of athlete at both coaches’ disposal is no-comparison. FSU fans will be rowdy, the team will be out for blood, and I truly believe they’ll take advantage of a sell-out stadium at home against a reeling Hokie squad.

William & Mary (September 8th, 2018 2:00 P.M. EST at home)

Television: ACC Network Extra

Previous Game: Bucknell (September 1st, 2018 6:00 P.M. EST away)

Following Game: Elon (September 15th, 2018 6:00 P.M. EST at home)

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

I’ll keep this brief: ACC teams SHOULD win their FCS match-ups. Virginia Tech is at home against a vastly inferior opponent. Virginia Tech should win this. Next.

East Carolina University (September 15th, 2018 12:20 P.M. EST at home)

Television: ACC Network Extra

Previous Game: UNC (September 8th, 2018 3L30 P.M. EST at home)

Following Game: USF (September 22nd, 2018 away)

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

Virginia Tech catches East Carolina in a great spot, with the Pirates taking on the Tar Heels the week before and having to face the USF Bulls the following week. The game being in Blacksburg works to the Hokie’s advantage as well. I anticipate Virginia Tech will continue to cut their teeth on these out of conference opponents, doing so here as well.

Old Dominion (September 22nd, 2018 3:30 P.M. EST away)

Television: CBS Sports Network

Previous Game: Charlotte (September 15th 6:00 P.M. EST away on ESPN3)

Following Game: FSU (September 29th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

Old Dominion is looking to build itself up as a brand and Group of 5 Football power. As such, it continues to schedule tough Power Five OOC opponents such as Virginia Tech. That won’t serve them well this season, though, as I fully expect Virginia Tech to contend for the Coastal division in the ACC. I believe the Hokies will snatch another win on the road.

Duke (September 29th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: NC Central (September 22nd, 2018 away)

Following Game: Georgia Tech (October 13th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Virginia Tech LOSS

This is not the start that Virginia Tech was looking for in ACC play. Additionally, I believe that Virginia Tech is better than their Conference record would look like at this point. However, I cannot stress enough the timing of the schedule and the off-season conflicts that have arisen for the Hokies. Virginia Tech has a match-up against Notre Dame (a playoff contender) the following week. In a look-ahead game, against a supposedly inferior Duke squad, Virginia Tech might very well be caught off-guard in this upset situation. Duke has a sneaky-good team I believe, and will be a dark horse for the Coastal. Duke will, in my prediction, catch the Hokies unaware. The Hokies must remain diligent the remainder of the season to stay in the Coastal race.

Notre Dame (October 6th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Stanford (September 29th, 2018 7:30 P.M. EST on NBC at home)

Following Game: Pittsburgh (October 13th, 2018 2:30 P.M. EST on NBC at home)

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

This is the turning point for Virginia Tech in 2018, I anticipate. Blacksburg is a notoriously tough place to play, and I believe the Fighting Irish won’t anticipate as tough a fight as they’ll get from Virginia Tech. The Hokies are a balanced enough team that I fully expect they can score on Notre Dame and also hold Notre Dame from scoring enough points in Blacksburg that the Hokies will walk away from the game victorious.

North Carolina (October 13th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Miami (Thursday September 27th, 2018 8:00 P.M. EST away)

Following Game: Syracuse (October 20th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

Virginia Tech will take the full momentum of the Notre Dame win to North Carolina in Chapel Hill. While I do anticipate North Carolina contending for the Coastal division as well, I do not believe they have what it takes to stop a Hokie team fighting with everything they’ve got for the Coastal crown. As Virginia Tech already has two conference losses, they cannot afford a hiccup here. I don’t think it’ll happen as Virginia Tech fights their way to a much-needed bye.

Georgia Tech (Thursday October 25th, 2018 7:30 P.M. EST at home)

Television: ESPN

Previous Game: Duke (October 13th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: North Carolina (November 3rd, 2018 away)

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

Things are looking really good in Blacksburg now, as the Hokies are on a roll! This Thursday night game in prime-time showcasing a Rivalry is exactly the forward momentum that Virginia Tech needs entering the closing portions of their schedule. I don’t expect much from Georgia Tech this season, and despite running the always tricky triple-option, I don’t think they have what it takes to beat VT in this setting.

Boston College (November 3rd, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Miami (Friday October 26th, 2018 7:00 P.M. EST on ESPN at home)

Following Game: Clemson (November 10th, 2018 at home)

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

The Boston College Eagles will be a talented team this season, and if this game were on the road I might call the upset at the hands of Boston College. However, as the game will be played in Blacksburg, I expect a tight race through all four quarters. Virginia Tech, with home field advantage, will come out on top.

Pittsburgh (November 10th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: UVA (Friday November 2nd, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. EST on ESPN2 away)

Following Game: Wake Forest (November 17th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Virginia Tech LOSS

Tragedy in Pittsburgh for the Hokies. Nearing the end of the ACC regular season schedule, Virginia Tech will have Miami in their cross-hairs. Pittsburgh, blessed with an ideally formatted schedule, is the prime team to pull the upset here in a game many Hokies might not suspect. Virginia Tech will need to win-out and hope for some Coastal miracles to now make the ACC Championship game.

Miami (November 17th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Georgia Tech (November 10th, 2018 away)

Following Game: Pittsburgh (November 24th, 2018 at home)

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

With newly ignited fire, Virginia Tech will finally face Miami in the Coastal showdown. Miami has set a lofty perch for itself as the Coastal leader at this stage, and I suspect won’t take the now 3 loss Hokies seriously enough to think that they would lose their bid for the Coastal. This game might cost Miami two years straight in the ACC Championship game. The Hokies are still lethal, and are every bit the Coastal contender they’ve been made out to be. I believe Virginia Tech will pull the upset in Blacksburg against the unsuspecting Miami Hurricanes.

Virginia (Friday November 23rd, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Georgia Tech (November 17th, 2018 away)

Following Game: N/A

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Virginia Tech WIN

Virginia Tech will be challenging for the Coastal title at this stage, and in anticipation of a potential upset in the games tomorrow, Virginia Tech will seal this victory and pray on Saturday. The outcome of Pitt vs Miami will dictate the ACC Coastal.

My Predicted 2018 Regular Season Record for Virginia Tech : 9-3 (5-3 ACC)

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