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College football Week 1 schedule and predictions

By Nicholas Ian Allen

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide team take the field during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide team take the field during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – SEPTEMBER 17: Linebacker Tremaine (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)Edmunds
BLACKSBURG, VA – SEPTEMBER 17: Linebacker Tremaine (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)Edmunds /

No. 22 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. No. 21 Virginia Tech Hokies (in Landover, MD)

Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Not enough college football on Saturday? No worries, old Big East rivals Virginia Tech and West Virginia are set to meet at an NFL stadium Sunday.

West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech Three Things to Watch

1. West Virginia QB Will Grier

The Mountaineers won 10 games last season, but probably wouldn’t be ranked in the preseason Top 25 if it weren’t for new quarterback Will Grier. The former Florida QB threw for 1,204 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Gators, and led Florida to a 6-0 record as a starter before he was suspended for a PED violation.

Grier found his way to Morgantown to team up with offensive-minded head coach Dana Holgorsen, whose offenses have averaged more than 31 points and 250 passing yards per game in each of the last three seasons. The junior will lean on running back Justin Crawford, who ran for 1,184 yards last year, but must develop chemistry with a receiving corps that loses its top two playmakers, and three of its top four pass catchers from last year’s group.

2. Virginia Tech’s Back Seven

Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster is a legend, and he led the Hokies to a turnaround in 2016 after a disappointing 2015 season. After holding opponents to 22.8 points and 341 total yards per game last season, both of which ranked in the Top 30 nationally, there’s reason to believe the Tech defense can get back to a Top 10 level in 2017.

The biggest reason for optimism in the talent in the back seven. Cornerback Brandon Facyson, safety Terrell Edmunds and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are all pro prospects leading veteran units. In all, a combined six of seven starters return in the linebacker corps and secondary, which rank No. 9 and No. 3 in the country, respectively, according to preseason magazine guru Phil Steele’s Top Individual Units.

3. Offensive Playmakers?

Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente earned his reputation as an offensive play-caller, and the Hokies took well to his system in Year 1, topping out at 35 points and 445 total yards of offense per game, which was the best for the program in recent memory. However, Fuente must replace quarterback Jerod Evans, who led the team in rushing and passing, as well as explosive wideout Isaiah Ford and talented tight end Bucky Hodges.

West Virginia is in a similar boat. The Mountaineers lost dynamic wideout Shelton Gibson, who averaged 22.1 yards per catch and led the team with 951 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, as well as Daikel Shorts, who led the team with 63 catches.

Prediction:

West Virginia isn’t completely devoid of playmakers offensively, and Ka’Run White could put up big numbers with Grier pulling the strings, but even if the Mountaineers returned everyone from last year’s team West Virginia would have its hands full against the Hokies stout defense.

Virginia Tech 27, West Virginia 21

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