The Virginia Tech Hokies travel to Bobby Dodd Stadium to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in an ACC matchup on Thursday night. The Hokies are coming off a win over Boston College and are trying to finish this season strong, as head coach Frank Beamer said this would be his last season. The Yellow Jackets were expected to be one of the best teams in the ACC this season, and have not lived up to expectations and are only 3-6 this season.
Georgia Tech is a hard team to read, as it has six losses this season, but gave Florida State its first loss of the season. Yellow Jackets head coach Paul Johnson will try to have his team ready for a battle against the Hokies, with both of these teams are playing for pride. Quarterback Justin Thomas leads the Yellow Jackets offense, and has struggled at times this season.
Thomas has a completion percentage of just 43.6 percent this season, and has thrown 12 passing touchdown to six interceptions. Johnson runs the triple option with his junior quarterback, and he doesn't put too much pressure on his quarterback to throw the ball down the field.
While Thomas' passing numbers are not great, he leads the team in rushing with 418 yards this year. Behind Thomas is fullback Patrick Skov, who is listed at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds and can run through tacklers. Skov has 339 rushing yards this season and is averaging 4.1 yards per carry. The Yellow Jackets powerful fullback has eight total touchdowns this season, and will look to find the endzone again Thursday night.
Virginia Tech's defense will look to contain the triple option, and their outside linebackers and defensive ends will need to contain this offense. The Hokies will likely bring players up in the box and dare Thomas to throw the deep ball, as they want to disrupt the Yellow Jackets game plan. Virginia Tech can make a bowl game this season, but would need to win out the rest of its schedule for that to happen.
Senior quarterback Michael Brewer has taken back over the starting job after breaking his collarbone in the first game of the season against Ohio State. Brewer threw for 180 yards and a passing touchdown against Boston College, and had a completion percentage of 71.4 percent against the Eagles. The Hokies quarterback will need to play mistake free football on Thursday night, but Georgia Tech's defense can create turnovers.
Beamer will try to get the running game going early, as it will open up passing lanes for Brewer. Freshman running back Travon McMillian will carry the load for the Hokies Thursday, as he leads the team in rushing with 665 yards and three touchdowns. Beamer likes to get his freshman back a ton of carries, and is coming off a 105 yard rushing game against Boston College.
Offensive line play is huge for both programs Thursday, as the Yellow Jackets need open holes for their triple option to work, and Brewer will need protection if the Hokies offense wants to move the ball. Although their records don't show it, this looks to be a competitive game between two big programs in college football.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, and you can watch the live broadcast here. To listen to the Hokies' radio broadcast, click here, and for the Yellow Jackets' radio broadcast, go here.
