The Battle of the Techs is back in Blacksburg, with Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech set to face off on Saturday afternoon.
Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET at Lane Stadium and will be aired on RSN. Tickets are still available and start at $65.
Below are some storylines fans should look out for heading into Saturday's game.
Bounce-Back Week
Both teams are coming off tough losses from the week prior, with the Hokies coming up short to NC State, 22-21, and the Yellow Jackets falling to Florida State, 41-16. A new week brings along another opportunity for each program to improve, and this one is no different. Virginia Tech currently leads the series 11-7 and has been able to produce after coming off a loss, standing at 230-193-16 all-time.
Hall of Fame Game
On Saturday, Virginia Tech will be honoring the newest class of the school's Sports Hall of Fame. Those from the football program include former quarterback Bruce Arians, defensive back Kam Chancellor, strength and conditioning coach Mike Gentry and linebacker Vince Hall. When the games first started in 2003, the Hokies have impressed in Hall of Fame games, standing at 10-3 when playing in front of legendary company.
Going Deep
In its game last week against NC State, Virginia Tech was taking shots down the field when given the opportunity. The Hokies saw their longest offensive play of the season, an 85-yard touchdown to wide receiver Kaleb Smith. Another long-bomb play came just three minutes later, with another shot to Smith, that time a 50-yard reception. The redshirt senior is currently third in the ACC in yards per reception (18.4). Virginia Tech will look to take more shots down the field, and so far this season, quarterback Grant Wells has completed 22 passes of 20 yards or more. This will be a prime opportunity for the Wells-Smith connection, as Georgia Tech currently ranks in the bottom three of the ACC in passing yards allowed (237.8 ypg).
Locking them Down
After holding a top-25 program to just 10 points after 45 minutes, the Hokies are looking to build on that success heading into this game. Last week, linebacker Alan Tisdale shined once again in just his second game of the season after missing the first six contests, finishing with a team-high 11 tackles, including five solo stops, and a sack. The Hokies look to create havoc defensively, as the Yellow Jackets rank last in the ACC in sacks allowed per game (3.75), third-down conversion percentage (28.2%), passing yards per completion (10.05) and total offense (305.5).
Creating Turnovers
Just like in any game, creating takeaways gives you a massive advantage over the opposition, and Georgia Tech has dominated in the takeaway category, as the program is currently the No. 3 team in the nation in turnover margin (1.50). The Yellow Jackets have only lost the ball six times so far this season, but have taken it away 18 times. Recently, the Hokies have been able to keep turnovers to a minimum, only committing one in their past two contests. While they have been able to keep the ball, taking it away will be an area of focus for defensive coordinator Chris Marve's defense, which has created five turnovers so far this season. A player to keep an eye on is linebacker Dax Hollifield, who is tied for eighth in the country in recovered fumbles (2).
