Week 8 Games of Interest
Upstarts get their shot
Early in the season there are more games of interest because it is not really clear which teams are good, which aren’t, and where everyone stands relative to one another.
It is a late October now, and there is a lot more clarity regarding contenders and pretenders.
If this were week 2, Clemson at Miami would be a game of interest. But in week 8 it is clear that neither of these teams matter nationally or to Virginia Tech.
In all honesty, it’s the sort of game where one will note the score if it appears on the bottom line, but that’s about it. This just isn’t a game worth tuning into or actively following.
Part of that has to do with the games that are truly of interest. There are four ranked-on-ranked matchups this week, and while only one has a direct tie to the Hokies, the other three do have some indirect ties, which make them all the more interesting.
4) Utah at USC
Importance to VT: This game has become a pretty good annual rivalry. Sadly, this is the last edition for the foreseeable future, as both teams are off to new conferences next year (Utah to the Big 12 and USC to the Big Ten). One need not squint to see similarities between this game and the Virginia Tech/Miami games from around the turn of the millennium (Utah, the scrappy underdogs who like to run the ball and play good defense have a history of up-ending the high flying blue blood from L.A.).
If Utah wins: The Utes would remain in the conference championship race, which is pretty amazing since they have played the entire season without star quarterback Cam Rising.
If USC wins: The Trojans would remain at the top of the conference standings (as hard as that is to believe after the manner in which they got trounced last week at Notre Dame). USC seems on the verge of spiraling to three or four losses if they are unable to rebound this week.
What is likely to happen, and why: USC lost ugly last week, but look for the Trojans to bounce back and win ugly this week. Utah’s defense vs. USC’s offense is worth the price of admission, but ultimately it’s likely to be Utah’s offense that does the team in. They just are not efficient enough on that side of the ball.
3) Tennessee at Alabama
Importance to VT: In a rematch from last year’s national game of the season, we’ll get to see just what kind of a monster Josh Heupel is creating in Knoxville. The Vols and Hokies seem to be in on more of the same recruits these days, and winning in Tuscaloosa is still a big deal, even if this Alabama team is eminently getable.
If Tennessee wins: The Vols will officially be back. This really has a similar feel to Michigan playing at Ohio St. last year. The Wolverines finally beat the Buckeyes in 2021, then they proved it wasn’t a fluke in winning The Game comfortably on the road last year. Tennessee has a similar opportunity.
If Alabama wins: Somehow, this very mediocre Crimson Tide team will be in the driver’s seat in the SEC West. The Tide would still need to beat LSU next week, but the Tide would likely be a home favorite.
What is likely to happen, and why: Tennessee’s offensive metrics all look solid, and the defense is better this year, but things just aren’t as smooth under Joe Milton as they were when Hendon Hooker led the offense. The consensus appears to favor Alabama in a close game, with a late score cementing a deceptive margin of victory.
2) Duke at Florida St.
Importance to VT: Two undefeated ACC foes square off under the lights with a conference championship game berth on the line.
If Duke wins: They will be giant slayers again, having already beaten Clemson in week 1. Just imagine if they had held on against Notre Dame…
If Florida St. wins: It will definitely help as far as the conference standings go, but any national boost will depend on whether or not Riley Leonard plays, and if he does play, how close he is to 100%.
What is likely to happen, and why: The smart money appears to believe Leonard will not play. There is no other way to read that spread. Without him Duke likely does not have enough offense to win the game, even though the Blue Devil defense is legit and fully capable of matching up with the FSU offense.
1) Penn St. at Ohio St.
Importance to VT: Penn St. has beaten Ohio St. under James Franklin, but it’s been a while. So long as the Nittany Lions are a notch below the Buckeyes (and Wolverines) in the Big Ten, the Hokies stand a decent chance of regaining recruiting supremacy in Virginia.
If Penn St. wins: They will, for all intents and purposes, be a win-over-Michigan away from the playoff. Of course, those are two big ifs.
If Ohio St. wins: The Buckeyes will remain in the playoff hunt, even though this team appears to be less talented than last year’s group, which barely snuck into the playoff.
What is likely to happen, and why: Ohio St. is the home team and Penn St.’s offense has looked a little shaky at times. However, the Nittany Lions have by far the better defense. There seems to be more confidence than usual emanating from Happy Valley this year. Penn St.’s offense is efficient, but does not generate many chunk plays. If the defense plays as well as it has thus far , Penn St. will stand a good chance of scoring the upset. But if the defense regresses, even a little, to the mean, the Buckeyes will survive the challenge.