National analysts predict final score for Miami vs. Virginia Tech

Predictions are rolling in for Cam Ward’s first ACC matchup. This game is packed with intriguing storylines, including:

Virginia Tech is 2-2 with losses to Rutgers and Vanderbilt, but those losses were by three points to teams from the two best conferences in college football. They haven’t played an ACC school yet, so they could still have a chance at the ACC Championship, but to stay in contention, Virginia Tech can’t afford to lose more than one game. That means they’ll have to beat either Miami or Clemson to have a chance at the title.

As Cam Ward noted earlier this week, he and Kyron Draughns discovered they were cousins ​​during their senior year of high school, a bond that continues to this day. Ward and Draughns both train with the same trainer, Darrell Colbert, who coaches some of the best quarterbacks in college football.

Unless Florida or South Florida are considered great teams, the Hurricanes have never faced a team with their level of talent before and struggled in the first half against a physical South Florida team. With that in mind, Virginia Tech is probably the most talented team Miami has faced so far, and even if they aren’t, Virginia Tech has the best defense Miami has faced this season.

Ward, who transferred from Washington State in the offseason and previously played at Incarnate Wood, has yet to play against an in-conference ACC opponent, and this game alone will be a big test of how Ward fits into the conference landscape.

JD Pickell of On3 Sports took all of this into consideration when predicting the upcoming matchup between Virginia Tech and Miami University.

“Virginia Tech is a much better team than their record would suggest. They’re 2-2 right now, with one game going in overtime against Vanderbilt, but I think Vanderbilt will do pretty well this season. They lost a three-point game against Rutgers.”

If you want to change the course of your season, your hopes for an ACC Championship, beat a top 10 team on the road on national television. I’ve talked a lot about Virginia Tech, the success of their returning players, their continuity, how they performed last year, etc. But we have yet to see the fruits of our hopes coming into the season. This could change the narrative and the perspective on Brent Pry’s program. Again, two losses by three points. I think you’re doing yourself a huge disservice if you’re overlooking Virginia Tech.

Even if they pull (Cam Ward), even if they put a lid on the passing game and say, “Okay, you’ve got to beat us under and beat us with the running game,” I believe Mario Cristobal is building a team that can play that way at this point. They can play the trench game. They have a running back in Damen Martinez who can carry the mail. And I think if Miami is forced to win this game ugly, they also have a way to utilize the under pass game. Xavier Restrepo, the under pass game is his signature. He can find the weakness in the zone and go north and south. If it turns out that way, I don’t see a way Virginia Tech can play four quarters and contain this offense or at least be overwhelmingly physically outmatched by Miami’s offense.

So I think Miami will win. I think Virginia Tech will cover. So 18.5, Friday night, short week, Miami hasn’t played anyone in a while. Virginia Tech is playing hardball. I think Miami will win 34-20. So again, Friday night game, Miami will win and Virginia Tech will cover.”

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