Syracuse Football: Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse prediction, odds, spread and over/under for college football week 9

After a much-needed bye week to rest and regroup, Syracuse football returns to the gridiron this Thursday evening, as the Orange travels to Virginia Tech amid a three-game setback streak for the ‘Cuse.

In recent weeks, the Orange has gotten thoroughly outplayed in losses to Clemson at home, as well as North Carolina and Florida State on the road. To be fair, that was a brutal three-contest stretch for Syracuse football, and I’m hoping that the Orange coaching staff and roster have put those results in the rear-view mirror.

Syracuse football (4-3, 0-3 in the ACC) has five encounters left on its 2023 regular-season docket, all against Atlantic Coast Conference foes. The ‘Cuse needs two more wins to attain bowl eligibility for the second year in a row, and the Orange does have numerous “winnable” games remaining on its 2023 schedule.

That being said, regardless of the competition, the ‘Cuse has to play a lot better than it has of late, particularly on the offensive side of the field.

The Hokies (3-4, 2-1), meanwhile, are also coming off of a bye week. In their most recent league clash, the Hokies dismantled Wake Forest at home, 30-13, on October 14. While Syracuse football has a better overall record to date than Virginia Tech, the Hokies do have two ACC victories, while the Orange is still searching for its first conference conquest.

Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse odds, spread and total

When I wrote this article, FanDuel had the Orange as a 2.5-point betting underdog on the road versus the Hokies, with the over/under set at 47.5 points.

Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse how to watch

Date: Thursday, Oct. 26
Game Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va.
TV/Streaming: ESPN and fuboTV
Virginia Tech’s record: 3-4, 2-1 in the ACC
Syracuse’s record: 4-3, 0-3 in the ACC
Syracuse’s full 2023 schedule: Click here

Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse key players to watch

Here is the week-nine depth chart for the Orange against the Hokies, courtesy of SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister.

From an injury standpoint, star junior receiver Oronde Gadsden II, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman David Wohlabaugh Jr., sophomore defensive lineman Denis Jaquez Jr. and junior tight end Steven Mahar Jr. are out for the remainder of the 2023 campaign due to injuries.

Earlier this week, ‘Cuse head coach Dino Babers said that junior offensive lineman Kalan Ellis and junior wide receiver/return specialist Trebor Pena will not play at Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyron Drones
Drones is a true dual-threat quarterback who will test the ‘Cuse defense with both his arm and his legs. So far in 2023, he is completing 58.0 percent of his passes for 1,042 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception. On the ground, Drones has rushed 91 times for 344 yards and four touchdowns.

Junior running back Bhayshul Tuten
To date in 2023, Tuten has rushed 92 times for 360 yards and three scores. He’s also hauled in 20 passes for 204 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Syracuse

Senior quarterback Garrett Shrader
Similar to Drones, Shrader is a dual-threat signal-caller. He’s struggled a bit amid the Orange’s recent three-game losing streak. At this juncture in the current term, Shrader has completed 62.0 percent of his pass attempts for 1,371 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. In the rushing department, Shrader has carried the ball 78 times for 358 yards and six scores on the ground.

Sophomore running back LeQuint Allen Jr.
Allen, to date, resides at No. 5 in the ACC as it pertains to rushing yards per game. In total, he has rushed 106 times in the present stanza for 511 yards and seven touchdowns. As a receiver, Allen has caught 23 passes for 157 yards and one score through the air.

Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse prediction and pick

In their all-time series together, per cuse.com, the Orange is 11-8 against the Hokies, and Syracuse football has won two straight versus Virginia Tech.

The Hokies’ 2023 resume includes wins over Old Dominion, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest, while Virginia Tech has fallen to Purdue, Rutgers, Marshall and Florida State.

For what it’s worth, when I wrote this column, ESPN’s football power index (“FPI”) had the ‘Cuse at No. 37 nationally, while the Hokies checked in at No. 64 overall.

Putting my homer-ism to the side, on paper, I feel that Syracuse football is the “better” team in this ACC battle. That being said, the Orange hasn’t played well of late, and Virginia Tech is at home.

I’m on the fence with my pick. Even though the ‘Cuse has gotten crushed on three straight occasions, I think that Syracuse football is going to pull off a squeaker in Blacksburg. I’ll take the Orange to defeat the Hokies, 28-24.

Next up for the ‘Cuse will be a home game on Friday, Nov. 3, against Boston College (4-3, 2-2 in the ACC). Syracuse football and the Eagles are slated to kick off beginning at 7:30 pm from the JMA Wireless Dome, with television coverage on ESPN2.