The Virginia Tech Hokies and Syracuse Orange do battle Thursday night in week 9 college football action from Lane Stadium.

Syracuse Blown Out Again

The Syracuse Orange come into this game losers of 3 straight games, falling to 4-3 on the year after a 41-3 loss to Florida State last time out. Garrett Shrader has thrown for 1,371 yards, 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions on 62% passing while also rushing for 358 yards and 6 TDs. LeQuint Allen has a team-high 511 rushing yards with 7 touchdowns while Umari Hatcher has a team-high 346 receiving yards. Damien Alford has 319 receiving yards and Donovan Brown has 298 receving yards while another three pass-catchers have 100+ receiving yards on the year. On defense, Justin Barron has a team-high 56 total tackles while Leon Lowery has a team-high 3.5 sacks and Kevon Darton has 3 sacks.

Syracuse Orange Team Facts

• The favorite has won each of Syracuse’s last 19 games.
• Syracuse has failed to cover the spread in each of its last seven games against conference opponents.
• Syracuse has lost the first half in 15 of its last 16 road games against conference opponents.
• Each of Syracuse’s last six games have gone UNDER the total points line.

Virginia Tech Pushing For .500

The Virginia Tech Hokies come into this one on the heels of their 30-13 win over Wake Forest last time out. Mitch Griffis has thrown for 1,211 yards, 9 touchdowns and 6 interceptions on 59.2% passing while Demond Claiborne has a team-high 471 rushing yards with 5 TDs and Justice Ellison has 348 rushing yards. Jahmal Banks leads Wake Forest with 38 receptions for 433 yards and 3 TDs while Taylor Morin has 27 grabs for 338 yards. Two more Wake receivers have 200+ receiving yards as well on the year. On defense, Jacob Roberts has a team-high 55 total tackles as well as a team-high 5 sacks while Jasheen Davis has 4.5 sacks and DaShawn Jones has 3 interceptions as well on the year.

Virginia Tech Hokies Team Facts

• The home team has won each of Virginia Tech’s last five games.
• Virginia Tech has covered the spread in each of its last four games in October.
• Virginia Tech has won the first half in six of its last seven home games against conference opponents.
• Four of Virginia Tech’s last five October games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• Syracuse has recorded the equal-most home wins by a margin of 40+ points of any FBS team this season (2).
• Syracuse has suffered the equal-most road losses by a margin of 30+ points of any FBS team this season (2).

Chris’ Pick

I’m looking at Syracuse and the points here. I know only one win separates these two teams record-wise, and Virginia Tech’s last two wins have come at home against Wake Forest and Pitt, but this is a Syracuse team that’s much better than both of those teams, and a Syracuse team that likes to run the football and that’s the big area of concern for Virginia Tech’s defense. Sure, Syracuse has been blown out in three straight weeks, but those losses came to three of the best teams in the ACC in Clemson, UNC and Florida State. I wouldn’t consider lumping Virginia Tech in that group. I’ll take the points with the better team and that’s Syracuse.