BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech football team opens the second half of its season Thursday night when the Hokies take on Georgia Tech at Lane Stadium in front of ESPN's cameras.
The Hokies sit at 4-2 on the season and 3-0 in the ACC. More importantly, they sit in the perfect spot in the ACC standings – first in the Coastal Division – with four home games remaining.
But they're getting ready to face a recent nemesis in Georgia Tech, winners of two straight over the Hokies and three of the past four in the series. All of those games were close – a common trend in this series. Eight of the past 10 games have been decided by a touchdown or less.
So what will it take for Virginia Tech to swat away the Yellow Jackets on Thursday evening? Well, here are some things to watch:
The big play
For the Hokies to win this one, they need to limit the big plays from Georgia Tech's option-oriented attack. A year ago, Georgia Tech scored touchdowns on pass plays of 60 and 80 yards and used a 69-yard run to set up a field goal.
In the past four games in the series, Georgia Tech has amassed plays of 69, 60, 80, 56, 53, 58, 32 and 31 yards. Of those eight plays, the Yellow Jackets scored touchdowns on five of them.
Giving up big plays gets a team beat against anyone. In this series, that has been the case, so the Hokies need to limit the Yellow Jackets in this area.
Also, consider this: in the Hokies' win over the Yellow Jackets during this four-game span (2015), they gave up just one play of 20 yards or more. Coincidence?
Limiting turnovers
This also goes without saying, but remains particularly true in this series.
Virginia Tech has turned the ball over nine times in the past four games with the Yellow Jackets. The anomaly was last year when the Hokies lost despite not turning the ball over.
Yet in 2016, Virginia Tech turned the ball over four times, and in 2014, the Hokies turned it over three times – both defeats. In 2015, Georgia Tech turned it over three times and lost to the Hokies.
The good news is that Virginia Tech ranks 18th nationally in turnover margin this season. The Hokies stand at 3-0 in the ACC because they have turned the ball over just twice in those three games.
If their protection of the football continues, they stand a great chance at moving to 4-0.
Scoring first
Yet again, this note works its way into this space, but it certainly fits because the last thing that Virginia Tech needs to do is to get behind the clock-draining Yellow Jackets, who rank 15th nationally in time of possession, averaging 33 minutes per game.
Georgia Tech has scored first in three of the past four meetings with the Hokies, with the lone exception being last season when the Hokies lost despite scoring first – one of the rare times that has happened under head coach Justin Fuente. Following their win over North Carolina on Oct. 13, the Hokies moved to 20-3 under Justin Fuente when scoring first in a game.
Also – and probably more important to note – the Hokies have not led after the first quarter in any of the past four games with the Yellow Jackets, and the result is a 1-3 mark in those games.
So, for sure, the Hokies need to break this trend Thursday night.
250 is the number
Georgia Tech enters this game ranked No. 1 nationally in rushing offense at 352.4 yards per game. The Yellow Jackets' offense features a lot of the option game and a lot of quarterback runs – and QB Taquon Marshall leads the team with nearly 600 yards and nine touchdowns in seven games.
The Hokies obviously spent much of their open week preparing for that, and on paper, what Georgia Tech does actually plays into Virginia Tech's strengths. The Hokies are allowing just 123 yards rushing per game on the ground – a number that ranks 27th nationally.
The key number for Virginia Tech's defense is 250. In 10 previous meetings against Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson's offense, the Hokies are 4-1 when they allow 250 yards rushing or less to the Yellow Jackets. They are 2-3 when allowing more than that number.
So fans should keep an eye on that stat on the video scoreboard. If the Hokies are on pace to allow less than 250 yards rushing, then they probably have a great shot at winning.
Willis' performance
So much gets made of defending the option when discussing Georgia Tech, but offenses need to hold up the other end of the bargain, and Virginia Tech's offense is no different. That means the Hokies need to get another solid performance from quarterback Ryan Willis, who moved to 2-1 as the starter in place of the injured Josh Jackson following the Hokies' win over North Carolina.
Willis, a transfer from Kansas, is establishing himself as one of the better quarterbacks in the ACC. He already ranks fourth in the ACC in passing (211.4 ypg), fifth in total offense (240.6 ypg) and sixth in passer rating (135.8).
Hopefully, Willis can get some help from a struggling Virginia Tech rushing attack. Georgia Tech has allowed 200 yards or more rushing in just two games this season – but lost both times.
The game – and the Hokies' second half of the season – officially kicks off at 7:31 p.m. Those missing the fun at Lane Stadium may tune in on ESPN to watch.