Virginia Tech at Duke - 11/12/22 College Football Picks and Prediction

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The Virginia Tech Hokies will cross the border and head down to Durham to take on the Duke Blue Devils from Wallace-Wade Stadium this Saturday. Virginia Tech has dominated the head-to-head with Duke since coming over from the Big East, and they hold a 19-10 all-time series lead.

Virginia Tech dropped to 2-7 after losing to Georgia Tech at home in Week 7. The Hokies nearly won the TechMo Bowl after taking a two-score lead into the final period, but the Yellow Jackets would sting them late and hand them their sixth loss in a row. Things are getting messy in Blacksburg, as Tech is approaching uncharted territory. Virginia Tech scores 20.2 points per game, while passing for 212.6 yards per game (181st), and rushing for 104.3 ypg (249th).

Grant Wells transferred into an ugly situation at Tech. Brent Pry’s first season at the helm may go down as one of the worst in school history, and Wells has started all nine games thus far. To his credit, Wells has had Tech in  each of the past three games, only to have a costly turnover or a failed conversion of some sort be the deciding factor. The junior quarterback will have a tough time keeping up with Riley Leonard this weekend.  Wells has thrown for 1,846 passing yards with eight touchdowns to eight interceptions, while rushing for a team-lead six touchdowns for the season. 

The run game has long been a staple of the Virginia Tech program, but it’s been nonexistent this season. Kenny King returned to the lineup last weekend, and was able to rush for 79 yards and a touchdown, but that’s been the highest output of a Tech back since. King leads VT with 338 rushing yards with Malachi Thomas dealing with injuries. Kaleb Smith has done his part on the outside this season, supplying the lone bright spot on the VT offense. Smith leads the team in receptions (35) and receiving yards (647). Tight end Nick Gallo has served as a security blanket, catching four or more passes in five of seven games this season. 

Duke improved to 6-3 after defeating Boston College in Week 10. The Blue Devils scored early and led throughout the whole contest last Friday, picking up a seven-point win and becoming bowl eligible. Duke scores 34.8 points per game, while passing for 210.4 yards per game (151st), and rushing for 208.1 ypg (40th).

Riley Leonard’s dual threat ability has really hurt defenses since the start of ACC play. After rushing for a career-high 130 yards in the loss to UNC, Leonard scored three times in the win over Miami, and nearly surpassed the 100-yard mark last weekend versus BC. He’ll likely keep things going against a incompetent Tech team here. Leonard has passed for 1,851 yards with 11 touchdowns to four interceptions, and he’s rushed for team-leads 577 yards and nine touchdowns.

Jaylen Coleman, Justin Water, and Jaquez Moore have split the rushing work for Duke. Waters has scored in each of the last three games, and leads the RB room with 461 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. Coleman led the team before missing the last three games with 307 yards and four scores. In his absence, Moore has stepped up and he rushed for a season high 82 yards and scored twice in win over BC, bringing his season totals to 396 yards and four touchdowns.  Jalon Calhoun leads Duke in receiving for the second year in a row with 36 receptions and 491 receiving yards, while Jordan Moore is second on the team with 32 catches for 331 yards.

Virginia Tech is 3-6 against the spread this season, with a 1-3 record on the road. Duke is 5-3 against the spread this season, with a 4-1 record at home. The under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.

Wow, the tables have really turned for these two programs. 

Duke has long been the laughing stock of ACC football, but they became bowl eligible for the first time in five years after their win over BC last Friday. Virginia Tech is in shambles right now, and they’re heading towards uncharted territory. The Hokies haven’t lost ten games since 1950, and with this trip and a small trip to Lynchburg looming, they could head into their Commonwealth Clash with UVA eyeing the wrong side of history.

The Hokies will find trouble keeping up with Duke here offensively and what can go wrong, will go wrong for Tech this season. Take Duke’s spread at home in wake of the downfall at Virginia Tech.

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.

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