West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech: Preview, predictions, TV schedule and more

Matchups to watch

Both offenses have plenty of question marks, meaning the game could come down to a handful of unknown players breaking out. These two matchups will be critical for their respective offenses to overcome their relative lack of experience and grind out enough offense to win.

Will Grier vs. Terrell Edmunds

For all the positional concerns, West Virginia at least appears to have the quarterback advantage over the Hokies with Grier under center. The question is how sharp Grier will be in his first start in nearly two years while going up against the best defense West Virginia will face in the regular season.

Grier threw for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns to three interceptions during his six-game stint with the Gators before being serving a year-long PED suspension in mid-October. A four-touchdown effort against a 10-win Ole Miss team was particularly memorable, but Grier also turned in middling performances against Kentucky and Missouri.

A Virginia Tech secondary with three returning starters will be a massive challenge for Grier in his first game as a Mountaineer. In particular, Grier will need to keep an eye on Terrell Edmunds, who led the Hokies with four interceptions last season while also racking up 101 tackles and a forced fumble.

Winning the turnover battle will be crucial, as both teams could struggle to move the ball. Edmunds is Virginia Tech’s top ballhawk and has the best chance of any Hokie to make a game-changing play.

Steven Peoples vs. West Virginia defensive line

Even with Jackson going up against a rebuilt Mountaineers secondary, the Hokies will need to rely on their more veteran running back to churn out enough offense.

Virginia Tech has a lot of rushing production to replace without Evans, who led Virginia Tech with 846 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground in 2016. After carrying the ball just 16 times as a sophomore, Peoples turned in a terrific performance in fall camp and is listed as the starter for Sunday over leading returning rusher Travon McMillian.

In the middle of the West Virginia line will be tackle Xavier Pegues, who missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury. Look for the 5-9, 220 pound Peoples to attack up the gut of the 3-3-5 often in an attempt to take some of the pressure off Jackson.

Peoples, a former walk-on, still needs to prove he’s capable of shouldering the load as a starting running back. Virginia Tech will need him, McMillian and perhaps even Phillips to have a strong game on the ground to beat the Mountaineers.