Notre Dame will look to remain in playoff contention this Saturday when facing off against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Here is everything you need to know about the game.
Notre Dame is coming off a huge 38-17 win over Stanford, which put them squarely into Playoff contention. Quarterback Ian Book was starting his second game of the season after replacing Brandon Wimbush and has completely revitalized the offense. Book finished the game with 278 yards and four touchdowns while adding another 47 yards on the ground.
However, it was senior running back Dexter Williams who stole the show in his first game of the season. Williams took his first carry of the year to the house on a 45-yard trot and finished the game with 161 yards rushing.
Virginia Tech is still trying to figure out their identity as a team and its been chaotic journey so far. The Hokies started the season off 2-0 before being shocked by Old Dominion at home. After the game, star defensive end Trevon Hill was dismissed from the program for unknown reasons, but many within the program say Hill was on thin ice.
With the team in disarray and many questioning whether they could recover, the Hokies responded by defeating a ranked Duke team on the road. However, head coach Justin Fuente will have a bigger challenge this weekend, but a win could put the Hokies one-step closer to challenging Clemson for the ACC title.
With so many questions for both teams heading into Saturday, this is a must-watch game for college football fans across the country. Here is everything you need to know before the game.
How to watch and bet on Virginia Tech vs. Notre Dame
Date: Saturday, October 6
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Stadium: Lane Stadium
TV Info: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Betting Odds
Points Spread: Notre Dame -5.5
Money Line: ND -205, VT +180
O/U: 53.5
Keys to Victory
Notre Dame – The Fighting Irish look every bit the part of a College Football Playoff contender and another win this will only help the cause. The key for Notre Dame this weekend is simple… keep doing what you’re doing. The defense has played great in recent weeks, including a performance against Stanford where the unit held the Cardinal offense to 229 total yards.
On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame made the switch to Ian Book at quarterback and have looked like a completely different team ever since. Last weekend, Notre Dame out-gained Stanford by 321 yards, had 29 first downs and won the time of possession. If the Fighting Irish simply mimic what they did last weekend, they should have no issue leaving Blacksburg with a victory.
Virginia Tech – This Bud Foster defense just doesn’t have the feel of the units he has produced over the years. If Virginia Tech plans to upset the Fighting Irish, it will start with playing sound defensively. On the season, the Hokies have given up an average of 429 yards per game, including an astounding 632 yards and 49 points to a 1-4 Old Dominion team.
Simply put, the defense is not doing what it needs to put Virginia Tech in position to win football games and this weekend will be its toughest test yet. However, with starting quarterback Josh Jackson out indefinitely, Ryan Willis will have to step up against a tough Notre Dame defense in his second career start. Not much is leaning in favor of Virginia Tech heading into the game, but when a team visits Blacksburg, leaving with a win is never going to be easy.
Prediction
When I see the five-point spread for this game, I immediate think easy money. Don’t expect anything but a dominant performance by Notre Dame on Saturday.
Final Score – Notre Dame 37, Virginia Tech 20