BLACKSBURG, Va. — Where Clemson is at mentally will go a long way in determining the outcome in Saturday’s game at Virginia Tech.
It was a very somber mood at the Allen Reeves Football Complex in Clemson earlier this week, as players and coaches tried to move on from the realization that their postseason aspirations are on life support following last week’s stunning loss to Louisville.
“Life is hard. Football is hard. Failure is hard. Disappointment is hard,” head coach Dabo Swinney said. “It takes courage to continue to keep going when something does not go your way. You have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go.”
That is what the Tigers will try to do against a very good Hokies team, who is also coming off a disappointing loss in overtime at Syracuse.
No. 23 Clemson (6-2, 5-1 ACC) at Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2 ACC)
Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va.
TV: ESPN
Spread: Clemson -6.5
Over/Under: 53
Series: Clemson leads series 23-12-1
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
If Clemson wants to keep its slim hopes of playing for an ACC Championship alive, it needs to beat the Hokies. A loss, plus a win by Miami and SMU eliminates the Tigers from contention. Virginia Tech is out of the running for an ACC Championship and is now trying to become bowl eligible and position itself for a better bowl game as well.
KEY MATCHUP
Will Virginia Tech’s best two players play on Saturday? Hokies head coach Brent Pry said earlier in the week that quarterback Kyron Drones and running back Bhayshul Tuten were questionable for Saturday’s game after both missed last week’s game at Syracuse due to injury. On Wednesday, he said there is a “good chance” both players will be available to play against the Tigers. If they do or don’t, the key matchup is still the same. Clemson has to do something to slow down the Hokies’ rushing attack. Virginia Tech is averaging 201.4 rushing yards per game and 5.21 yards per carry. The Tigers on the other hand are allowing 140.0 yards on the ground and 4.61 yards per carry, which ranks 95th in the country.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clemson running back Phil Mafah is quietly having an All-ACC caliber season. The Tigers’ leading rusher ranks third in the ACC and 14th nationally with 853 yards. He also ranks fifth in the ACC in yards per carry (6.32) and has eight rushing touchdowns. The Hokies are allowing 157.6 yards per game on the ground (16th in the ACC) and 4.03 yards per carry.
Virginia Tech defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland leads the nation in sacks (12) and the ACC in tackles for loss (12.5). A 6-foot-3, 253 pounds, the senior uses his speed to get around tackles and causes havoc for opposing quarterbacks. The Tigers are second in the ACC in sacks allowed and the offensive line has been charged with giving up three sacks all year. However, the Hokies rank third in the ACC in sacks (27.0), and Powell-Ryland will be the best pass rusher Clemson has seen since the Georgia game in Week 1.
THIS AND THAT
Clemson is 8-2 all-time at Lane Stadium. The Hokies’ two wins came in 1999 and 2006. The Tigers have won three straight at Lane Stadium dating back to 2011, including a 45-10 victory during the COVID season of 2020 when no one, except parents, were allowed to watch the game in the stadium. Clemson has won six straight in the series overall.
FINAL ANALYSIS
A lot depends on the availability of Drones and Tuten. But I am going to act as if they will play, which means the Tigers will have their hands full trying to stop the Virginia Tech running game, which it might regardless. This was not going to be an easy out prior to last week’s result. Now that the Tigers suffered a major blow to their ACC title hopes and College Football Playoff aspirations, can they avoid having one loss beat them twice? I don’t know if they can. I guess we will see.
PREDICTION
Clemson 24, Virginia Tech 21