VTScoop Game Predictions: Virginia Tech vs. No. 23 Tulane

Bowl season is here. The Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6, 5-3ACC) will be playing in the Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com against the No. 23 AP ranked Tulane Green Wave (11-2,  8-1 AAC). Tulane faced adversity in the final weeks of the season, losing out on their New Year's Six appearance by losing to SMU in the American Championship Game, and falling below Liberty in the race to be the highest ranked G5 member. Following their regular season, Head Coach Willie Fritz, along with numerous staff members, left to take on roles at Houston. Several key personnel have also opted out of the bowl game for Tulane. On the other hand, Virginia Tech has defied the norm of the college football world by returning a majority of their key personnel and avoiding massive attrition via the NCAA Transfer Portal. 

The game is scheduled to be played on Wednesday, December 27th at 2:00PM EST and be broadcast on ESPN.

Ahead of the contest, VTSCOOP’s EvanGWatkins, Doug Bowman, Andrew Alix, Kolby Crawford and Matej Sis put together their predictions for the game.

Doug Bowman

The month of December has been starkly different for these programs. Tulane has lost too many key pieces while Virginia Tech brought just about everyone back. Barring some assistance from Hokies turnovers, I think Tech wins this one by multiple scores. 

Prediction:Virginia Tech 30, No. 23 Tulane 13

Evan G. Watkins

Virginia Tech opened as just 4.5 point favorites but that line has shifted a touchdown with news of multiple Tulane departures and opt outs, including their top quarterback and top wide receiver.

There are a lot of questions around Tulane right now and Virginia Tech wants to make a statement. The biggest question for the Hokies is can they slow down Makhi Hughes, especially without safety duo Nasir Peoples and Jalen Stroman? If they can, VT rolls in this one.

Prediction:Virginia Tech 41, No. 23 Tulane 17

Matej Sis

I typically base my predictions off watching the opponent and analyzing the statistics. In this game, neither of those factors matter when evaluating what Tulane will bring to the table. The Green Wave have experienced tremendous adversity - losing their head coach, several staff members and key players ahead of this game. In addition, their loss to SMU knocks them down from a potential NY6 game to the Military Bowl. The state of these programs are in drastically different spots. Virginia Tech has reloaded their roster with returning production looking to achieve bigger and better things entering 2024, while Tulane is restarting and going in a new direction. I predict that Virginia Tech will come out with an urge to have a winning season, using Kyron Drones, Bhayshul Tuten, Malachi Thomas en route to multiple scores against a tough Tulane defense in the rain in Annapolis. I don't know what to expect from Tulane's offense, considering their top wide receiver (Chris Brazzell), quarterback (Michael Pratt), and others are opting out, and they are left with a sole threat in RB Mahki Hughes, who will be difficult to contain. Given all the available information, I'm going with VT in pretty convincing fashion against an undermanned and morally depleted Tulane team. 

Prediction:Virginia Tech 28, No. 23 Tulane 13

Andrew Alix

I love bowl games. After a couple of seasons on the outside looking in, I know to never take an appearance for granted again. This rings particularly true following Virginia Tech’s 1-3 start to the 2023 campaign, and it’s why I find myself spending the Holidays in Annapolis. Tulane, in the midst of a coaching transition and without some of their best overall talent, isn’t the benchmark test that they could have been at full strength. I would have really liked to see how the Hokies would have faired against arguably the nation’s best G5 squad. I think Tulane keeps in closer than previously expected, primarily because it’s going to pour rain and I believe that is going to open things up for their talented RB Makhi Hughes. But even if it is a slopfest, it’s Virginia Tech’s game to lose and I don’t believe Tulane has the juice to stop the momentum this program has built.

Prediction:Virginia Tech 21, No. 23 Tulane 13

Kolby Crawford

In this era of college football, it has almost become commonplace to see recurring bowl game matchups of depleted teams that excelled in the regular season, facing off against rising foes with momentum. I believe this iteration of the Military Bowl will be just that, and give Virginia Tech some solace in being on the other end of a situation mirroring the horrid 2021 Pinstripe Bowl. The cohesion and momentum of this Hokies squad will be too much for the new faces of the Green Wave.

Prediction:Virginia Tech 38, No. 23 Tulane 17