Virginia Tech Football: Final thoughts on huge Boston College game

Coming off a disappointing 34-3 loss at Louisville last weekend, the Virginia Tech football team heads to Chesnut Hill, Mass. for a big battle with ACC foe Boston College. Here are some things to know ahead of the game,

• Virginia Tech enters 4-5 overall and needs a win to keep bowl hopes alive.
• Boston College is 6-3, but they’re not your typical 6-3 Power 5 team and it’s unlikely Alumni Stadium is sold out and crowd noise should not be a major factor.
• Virginia Tech has not won a road game this season, losing all four at Rutgers, Marshall, Florida State, and Louisville.
• BC is 3-2 at home this season with wins over FCS Holy Cross, Connecticut, and Virginia. Their losses were to Florida State and Northern Illinois in overtime. Aside from FSU, not exactly a tough schedule.
• The teams have three common opponents with BC beating Syracuse and losing to FSU and Louisville. The Hokies have had the same results.

Virginia Tech faces as close to a must-win at Boston College as there is

The Eagles are already bowl-eligible at 6-3 so the only thing they have left to play for over the final three weeks is improving their bowl game. The Hokies need to win two out of their final three games, with two of those away from Lane Stadium, to become bowl-eligible for the first time under head coach Brent Pry.

For Virginia Tech, the game plan is simple. Run the football effectively and keep BC’s offense on the sideline as they are one of the top teams in the country running the ball and controlling the ball. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos is their leading rusher and they are 6-2 in the games the University of Central Florida transfer has started in. Hokies QB Kyron Drones is going to have to limit the mistakes and if there is ever a week where the offensive line needs to come to play on the road for Virginia Tech, this is the week.

Defensively, getting through Boston College’s strong offensive line and getting to and keeping Castellanos in the pocket is a must. The Eagles have the ACC’s top rushing game and are one of the top Power 5 rushing offenses. They are a classic clock-eating ground game.

BC is on a five-game winning streak and they are doing what needs to be done in FBS, they are beating the teams they are supposed to beat and becoming bowl-eligible for those extra-important practices and an extra game in late December.

The Hokies started as an underdog last Sunday when the lines were announced, but they quickly became a favorite heading into the game. I’d like to believe that they can go to Boston and win, but until they show me something away from Blacksburg, it’s hard seeing them win, but a win gets them one step closer to their one remaining goal for 2023, becoming bowl-eligible.