Virginia Tech at West Virginia College Football Picks & Predictions 9/4/2017
Sunday, September 3, 2017
FedEx Field
Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game
The Virginia Tech Hokies head to FedEx Field to play the West Virginia Mountaineers on Sunday, September 3, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Virginia Tech as 4 point favorites. The total has been set at 53. The Hokies were 8-6-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 8-6-0. The Mountaineers were 5-8-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 5-8-0.
Valuable Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Trends
The Virginia Tech Hokies were 8-6-0 against the over/under last season
The Virginia Tech Hokies were 8-6-0 against the spread last year
Important West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Trends
The West Virginia Mountaineers were 5-8-0 against the over/under last season
The West Virginia Mountaineers were 5-8-0 against the spread last year
Key Virginia Tech Hokies Injuries
08/16/17 CB Brandon Facyson Wrist probable Sunday vs. West Virginia
08/16/17 QB Josh Jackson None has been named the starter
Key West Virginia Mountaineers Injuries
08/20/17 WR Jovon Durante Transferred out for season
08/17/17 QB Will Grier None has been named the starter
08/14/17 WR Marcus Simms Suspension expected to miss Sunday vs. Virginia Tech
07/12/17 LB David Long Knee out indefinitely
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Virginia Tech Hokies were 24th in the country in points scored with 490 last season. They ran 1,084 plays last year for 3,667 yards, which ranked them 21st in Division 1 in total offense. The Hokies averaged 5.8 yards per play, which was 67th in the nation. As a team they accumulated a total of 330 1st downs last season, ranking them 9th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Virginia Tech ran for 2,575 yards, which ranked 45th in college football. They ran 636 times, averaging 4.1 yards per rush as a unit. The Hokies were penalized on offense 71 times for 666 yards last year, which had them 82nd in the country in penalties. Josh Jackson is expected to start for Virginia Tech after getting redshirted last year.
Defensive Statistics
Virginia Tech was 42nd in the country in points surrendered on defense with 319 last year. They gave up a total of 4,770 yards on D, which was 37th in D-1. The Hokies were 23rd in yards per play allowed with 5. Opponent offenses completed 216 throws on 431 attempts against the Virginia Tech Hokies defense last season, ranking them 40th and 80th in the nation. The Virginia Tech pass defense also surrendered a total of 2,803 yards in the air, which was 50th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 524 attempts for 1,967 yards last season, putting them in 47th place in the country against the run. The Hokies had 113 penalties for 825 yards on defense last year. That placed them 112th in college football.
Special Teams Stats
Virginia Tech was 1st in the country in punt returns with 43 last season. They totaled 343 punt return yards and averaged 8 yards per return, which was 61st in D-1. They returned 43 kicks for 944 yards on special teams, which put them 30th in kick return yardage. The Hokies averaged 21 yards per kick return and they were 13th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 7,526. The Virginia Tech Hokies tried 28 field goals last year and made 20, which was 22nd in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 71%. Virginia Tech Hokies kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 57 for 59 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,717 yards on 70 punts, averaging 39 yards per punt. That ranked them 107th in the NCAA in punting average.
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Mountaineers ran for 2,969 yards as a team last year, which ranked 20th in college football. They ran 575 times, averaging 5.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The West Virginia Mountaineers were penalized on offense 85 times for 823 yards last season, which had them 43rd in the country in penalties. They were 46th in the nation in points scored with 406. They ran 983 plays last season for 3,344 yards, which ranked them 40th in Division 1 in total offense. West Virginia averaged 6.4 yards per play, which was 29th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 315 1st downs last year, placing them 21st overall as an offensive unit. Will Grier is expected to get the start for the Mountaineers after sitting out a year after transferring from Florida.
Defensive Statistics
The West Virginia Mountaineers rush defense allowed 517 attempts for 2,187 yards last year, putting them in 62nd place in D-1 against the run. West Virginia committed 95 penalties for 891 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 121st in college football. They were 35th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 312. They surrendered a total of 5,537 yards on D, which was 89th in the country. The Mountaineers were ranked 59th in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Opposing offenses completed 270 passes on 478 attempts against the West Virginia defense last season, placing them 101st and 109th in Division 1. The West Virginia Mountaineers pass defense also gave up a total of 3,350 yards through the air, which was 107th overall in total pass defense.
Special Teams Stats
The West Virginia Mountaineers attempted 23 field goals last season and made 16, which was 67th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 67%. Mountaineers kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 51 for 51 last year. Their punters totaled 2,462 yards on 59 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That placed them 46th in Division 1 in punting average. West Virginia was ranked 63rd in the nation in punt returns with 21 last year. They accumulated 39 punt return yards and averaged 1.9 yards per return, which was 123rd in college football. They returned 33 kicks for 677 yards on special teams, ranking 96th in kick return yardage. The West Virginia Mountaineers averaged 21 yards per kick return and they were 31st in the country in all-purpose yards with 7,028.
Who will win tonight's Hokies/Mountaineers college football game against the spread?
Guy's Pick: Take the Mountaineers +4
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