Week 3 Games that will Impact Virginia Tech's Post-season Destination

3 important non-conference games will clarify early playoff race

Things went smoothly in the rooting interest games last week, which alongside Tech’s win over Marshall was a nice reminder that the sky is not falling. At least not yet.

Overall, last week was a good one for the ACC. Clemson showed signs of life and Cal went down to Auburn and beat the Tigers.

On the negative side, six out of the top seven teams in the AP poll are from the SEC. The only non-SEC team is Ohio St.

The sooner that group gets broken up, the better. The Hokies need to see some of those SEC teams get nicked before conference play starts. Otherwise, it will just be the perceived elite defeating one-another, and the losers would be unlikely to fall far in the polls.

Last Week’s Rooting Interest Record: 3-0 (4-2 on the season)

Record of Predictions in Rooting Interest Games: 3-0 (5-1)

• Tennessee won without issue. Grayson McCall looks a bit lost without Jamie Chadwell. NC State looks like a seven-to-eight win team, at most. (Rooting W, Prediction W)

• Texas looked impressive, and, as expected, Michigan was revealed as being far from a playoff caliber team. (Rooting W, Prediction W)

• Clemson absolutely demolished Appalachian St. Does this mean Clemson actually has a good offense, and it has just been dormant? It’s hard to tell, but it would have been an absolute disaster for the ACC had Clemson lost. (Rooting W, Prediction W)

Alright, enough of last week. Let’s get on to this week’s games!

Game 1: #24 Boston College at #6 Missouri

Boston College looks like a program reborn under Bill O’Brien. It would be a huge benefit for the ACC (and Virginia Tech’s strength of schedule) if the Eagles could pull the unlikely upset. The advanced stats suggest this game will be closer than the SP+, Las Vegas, and the score prediction model numbers.

Rooting Interest: Boston College

Game 2: West Virginia at Pittsburgh

It’s early, but Pitt looks much more like a Pat Narduzzi team than it has in recent seasons. If the Panthers win, it will be because they are the better team in the trenches. The offense allows only a 7% stuff rate, while the defense is stuffing 33% of opposing runs. If those numbers continue, it will be a sign that Pitt is really strong along both lines.

Rooting Interest: Pitt

Game 3: Memphis at Florida St.

FSU is winless, having lost to two ACC teams picked to finish in the middle of the conference standings. The Seminoles’ advanced stats paint a disturbing picture - bad offense and bad defense. FSU is favored because of the name on the jersey and because the game is being played in Tallahassee. It’s a nooner, though, and G5 power Memphis is perfectly capable of sending the perceived ACC standard bearer spiraling downward with a third straight loss to begin the season.

Rooting Interest: Florida St.