Syracuse Orange v. Virginia Tech Hokies Prediction & Preview (10/26/23)

Syracuse (4-3, 0-3 ACC) looks to snap a three-game losing streak when it travels down south to play at Virginia Tech.

Opponent: Virginia Tech Hokies (3-4, 2-1 ACC)

Date & Time: Thursday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA

TV: ESPN

Here we are again.

After four straight wins and three straight defeats, Syracuse football sits squarely at the postseason crossroad with the remaining five ACC games of the 2023 season about to unfold in "Chapter Two," opening on the road against improving Virginia Tech.

While from a current metrics standpoint the Orange may be predicted to win the five games against teams with a combined record of 16-19 overall and 8-11 in the ACC, it's time for the coaching staff and players to come back fresh from the week off and prepare mentally to end the season strong.

After all, finishing with momentum, and some sort of winning streak, has rarely occurred in the previous seven seasons under Dino Babers. SU sports a 19-42 conference record, going just 6-21 in games played after November 1, the timeline when teams are fighting through injuries, adjusting roster depth, and attempting to execute their best football of the season.

Thursday night's game marks the 20th time Virginia Tech has played on that particular weeknight at their often boisterous Lane Stadium, a tradition that started in 1999 with the self-proclaimed "Terror Dome" nickname for the huge homefield advantage. But much of the glitz and glamour has worn off over the last decade, as now Brent Pry, in his second year, looks to continue the rebuild of a program made famous by Frank Beamer.

The last time the teams played in Blacksburg in 2021, Justin Fuente was in his final season as Va. Tech coach, and it took two Syracuse touchdowns sandwiched around a defensive stop over the final three minutes to pull out a 41-36 victory.

Garrett Shrader and Damon Alford who hooked up on the winning 45-yard TD pass will, of course, be back in familiar territory, but both teams are different personal-wise two years later. Tech, also coming off an open week, has played its best football since losing to Marshall September 23, beating Pitt and Wake Forest at home while falling to league-leading Florida State. Quarterback Kyron Drones has settled into the starting job as a dual threat, and the Hokies defense did not allow a touchdown against Wake Forest.

Prediction time, and the pressure is on not to snap The Juice's 7-0 prediction streak for the season among our staff. Will Babers have "La Familia" ready to play from the plane trip down Wednesday, to Thursday at the hotel, then pregame and the 7:30 opening kickoff?

Our gut feeling is yes, the Orange will come ready to play behind Shrader on offense, The Mob defense will step up in the second half, and SU will grab a rare conference road victory defeating Virginia Tech 30-24.

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