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FSU football: A glance at Virginia Tech by the numbers

By Kelvin Hunt

CHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles before the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles before the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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FSU football will look to continue its winning ways when they host the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Noles enter the contest as -24.5 betting favorites, with a points total of 53. Those odds imply a 39-15 win for the Noles.

The Hokies are coming off their biggest win this season, a 33-14 win over the reeling Pittsburgh Panthers. There are some similarities between Virginia Tech and Boston College with mobile quarterbacks, so I think that’s gotten the attention of some FSU fans.

Granted, the Boston College game is an outlier, with most of the team playing the game with flu-like symptoms. Here are some numbers on Virginia Tech:

  • 24.8 ppg
  • 24.2 ppg allowed
  • 5 ypp
  • 5.32 ypp allowed
  • 3.27 ypc
  • 4.65 ypc allowed
  • 34.72 percent third downs converted
  • 41.18 percent third downs converted allowed

-Offensive FEI(opponent adjusted with garbage time removed): No. 80 nationally

-Defensive FEI (opponent adjusted with garbage time removed): No. 71 nationally

Thoughts

I break down the Virginia Tech offense with some clips in the video above. Virginia Tech’s offense runs the ball 55 percent of the time, and the passing game is mostly horizontal, with some slants and crossing patterns with the quarterback rolling out of the pocket.

Virginia Tech’s quarterback has a cannon but is only completing 56 percent of his passes this season. He does most of his damage in the running game on read options when teamed with running back, Bhayshul Tuten.

Both players run hard and play physically, usually falling forward for a couple of yards. It’ll be imperative for the FSU defense to stay out of third and short situations and force the Virginia Tech QB to beat them with his arm. I don’t think he can consistently do that, plus Virginia Tech’s offensive line allows penetration on nearly every play.

Pittsburgh had 12 tackles for a loss, and I’d imagine FSU should have nearly the same amount. Virginia Tech will go as their QB does, and hopefully, the FSU offense can find their ground game against a defense allowing well over four yards per carry.

If so, it wouldn’t shock me to see FSU cover the spread in this game.

Next. Generating Defensive Pressure Key For Noles Against VT. dark

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