No. 16 Louisville hosts Virginia Tech for a Week 10 matchup on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Cardinals are listed as 10-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 53.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction, and best bet for this matchup between these two ACC opponents.
Louisville vs. Virginia Tech prediction, preview
Louisville Preview
The Cardinals are in the thick of the ACC title race. They are in the cluster of teams with one conference loss and they have a key head-to-head win over Miami. If they win out, they have a great chance of making the conference title game with a College Football Playoff spot on the line. Miller Moss is starting to play better at quarterback for Louisville as the season goes on. He has had turnover issues this season, but is starting to make more positive plays to counteract the negatives. Louisville has two standout skill position players who give it a chance to beat anybody. Wide receiver Chris Bell ranks inside the top 13 in the country in receptions and receiving yards this season. Running back Isaac Brown is also a steady force on the ground, giving this offense great balance.
Virginia Tech Preview
Virginia Tech had a brutal start to the season. The Hokies lost out-of-conference games to Vanderbilt and South Carolina to start the season, then fired head coach Brent Pry after the ACC schedule started poorly as well. However, the Hokies finally have some positive momentum after picking up a win last week against Cal. Virginia Tech has a brutal final stretch to its schedule, facing Louisville, Miami, Florida State and Virginia in its final four games. While it is essentially a lost season, the Hokies can make a mark on the college football landscape by upsetting one of those ACC title hopefuls. Quarterback Kyron Drones is capable of making explosive plays with his legs and his arm, but has not been consistent enough this season. The rushing attack is something the Hokies will lean on in this game to keep the ball away from Miller Moss.
Louisville vs. Virginia Tech pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is for Virginia Tech to cover the 10-point spread. The Hokies were in a rut all season, but the win over Cal should have sparked this team. That game proved that this team is still fighting hard, despite having nothing tangible to play for. The ACC has been chaotic all season, and the Hokies can play a major role in the chaos by knocking off Louisville or one of the other title contenders they face later this season.
Virginia Tech has one of the best rushing attacks in the nation. The Hokies should rely heavily on that running game to move the ball and take time off the clock, all while keeping the ball out of Miller Moss’ hands. Virginia Tech ranks eighth in the nation in offensive EPA/rush. That is also how you want to attack Louisville because the Cardinals have one of the nation’s best pass defenses. Virginia Tech can compete in the trenches in this game and should be able to keep it within single digits.
