Offensive line returns after bye
James Franklin said the bye week should help bring players back, particularly along the offensive line. Montavious Cunningham and Brody Meadows were identified as returning.
College Football team briefing / WagerBird research desk
Virginia Tech Hokies
The matchup. The market. The case for your next move.
Results, schedule and game-day research ·
Season record5–2Won 2 straight
Against the spread3–3At the closing number
Last 5 games
WLLWW
Oldest to newest →In play
Hokies at Mustangs
In playHokies at Mustangs
Q2 07:58Hokies +6Total 56.5Hokies ML +194
Live score and clock. Tonight’s pick is graded at the final.
This briefing was written before this game. Its pregame notes are dated below.
Next Hokies pick
Hokies at Mustangs
Fri Nov 6 · 6:00 PM CT · 7:00 PM ET · released and locked
73
Signal strength
3.5 units
Signal strength 73, released before kickoff with its price locked.
73
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Hokies at Mustangs odds
Prices by sportsbook post when the sportsbooks open the next game.
Sportsbook prices have not been published for this matchup.
Line movement
at SMU MustangsFri Nov 6 · 6:00 PM CT · 7:00 PM ET
Lines as of : the Hokies spread is +6, where it opened; the total is 56.5 (opened 56).
Hokies spread+6+6No move
Total5656.5+0.5
Hokies team total24.524.5No move
Hokies money line+190+194+4
Open, then now.
Results and against the spread
5–2 · 3–3 ATSRecord
5–2
Against the spread
3–3
Form, last 5
WLLWW
Last game
W 20-16at Tigers
| Date | Game | Result | Spread | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 10/24 | at Clemson Tigers | W 20-16 | +2.5 | Covered |
| Sat 10/17 | vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | W 34-24 | −8.5 | Covered |
| Sat 10/10 | at California Golden Bears | L 20-25 | −11.5 | Missed |
| Fri 10/2 | vs Pittsburgh Panthers | L 33-35 | −4 | Missed |
| Sat 9/26 | at Boston College Eagles | W 21-14 | −14.5 | Missed |
Spread is the Hokies’ closing number. ATS is against the spread at the closing number.
Schedule
vs CardinalFri 11/13 · 11:00 PM CT12:00 AM ET
at HurricanesFri 11/20 · 11:00 PM CT12:00 AM ET
vs CavaliersFri 11/27 · 11:00 PM CT12:00 AM ET
Research archive
Pregame briefing
Written Fri Nov 6, before the Mustangs game. These notes describe that game, including its injuries and projected starters.
Read the Mustangs briefing · Fri 11/6
Dated research · archived briefing
Archived Hokies research
Written Fri Nov 6, before the Mustangs game.
Virginia Tech enters Friday at 5-2, with a 2-1 home record and a 3-1 road record. The results include wins over Georgia Tech and Clemson, following losses to California and Pittsburgh. The latest win came on the road, where the Hokies beat Clemson 20-16.
Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns in the Georgia Tech win. At Clemson, he threw two touchdown passes to Luke Reynolds, including the late scoring pass that decided the game. Jeffrey Overton Jr. ran for 209 yards and a go-ahead touchdown in the win at Boston College.
James Franklin said the bye week could help get players back, especially on the offensive line, and named Montavious Cunningham and Brody Meadows as returning. The latest availability report lists several Hokies out and Emmett Laws as questionable. It does not give injury specifics or expected return dates.
The team has also discussed improved defensive communication and a narrower defensive package. Tyson Flowers has highlighted forcing turnovers. Virginia Tech travels to face SMU at Ford Stadium at 6:00 p.m. CT; SMU’s supplied record is 5-2.
Season at time of writing
Virginia Tech is 5-2, including a 2-1 home record and a 3-1 road record. The Hokies have won their latest two games after losses to California and Pittsburgh; their results include a 20-16 win at Clemson and a 34-24 home win over Georgia Tech.
The news
Grunkemeyer’s recent passing performances
Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia Tech. At Clemson, he threw two touchdown passes, including the late scoring pass to Luke Reynolds.
Overton and the running game
Jeffrey Overton Jr. had 209 rushing yards and a late go-ahead touchdown at Boston College. The projected depth chart lists Marcellous Hawkins Jr. first at running back, with Overton behind him.
Defensive communication and turnovers
Recent team discussion has highlighted improved defensive communication and a narrower defensive package. Safety Tyson Flowers has emphasized creating turnovers.
Injuries
Injury report as of : 10 Hokies and 10 Mustangs on the report.
Hokies
- Shamarius “Snook” PeterkinListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Thomas WilliamsListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- George BallanceListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Randy AdirikaListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Nathaniel WrightListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Lucas AustinListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Justin TerryListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Marlen BrightListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- +2 more · full report in the Terminal
Mustangs
- Ira Singleton IVListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Tyren Polley Jr.Listed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Carterrious BrownListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Jaelyn Davis-RobinsonListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Trey WilsonListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Link RhodesListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- I’Zayah YoungListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- Xavier WrightListed out; report gives no injury specifics or return timeline.Out
- +2 more · full report in the Terminal
The matchup
Hokies projected starters
- Ethan GrunkemeyerQB
- Marcellous Hawkins Jr.RB
- Marlion Jackson (WR-X)
- Ayden Greene (WR-Z)
- Que’Sean BrownSLOT
- Luke ReynoldsTE
- Logan HowlandLT
- Layth GhannamLG
- Kyle AltunerC
- Montavious CunninghamRG
- Aidan LynchRT
- Aycen StevensLDE
- Elhadj FallLDT
- Kemari CopelandRDT
- Cortez HarrisRDE
- Keon WylieWLB
- Noah ChambersMLB
- Kaleb SpencerSLB
- Jaquez WhiteLCB
- Tyson FlowersSS
- Quentin ReddishFS
- Joshua ClarkeRCB
- Isaiah Brown-MurrayNB
Mustangs projected starters
- Kevin JenningsQB
- Kendrick RaphaelRB
- Jalen Cooper (WR-X)
- Yannick Smith (WR-Z)
- Yamir KnightSLOT
- Randy Pittman Jr. or Theo Melin OhrstromTE
- Drew EversLT
- Sam UtuLG
- Joshua BatesC
- Addison NicholsRG
- PJ WilliamsRT
- Tavion AtkinsonDE
- Malcolm Alcorn-CrowderDT
- Christian DavisDT
- Marques WhiteEDGE
- Alexander KilgoreWLB
- Brandon BookerMLB
- Jayvon ThomasLCB
- Sael ReyesSS
- Jimmy WyrickFS
- Marcellus Barnes Jr.RCB
- Jarvis LeeNB
Updated How we grade
Written by the WagerBird research team from our own results, line captures and graded picks. Updated . How we grade →
Our Hokies picks, graded
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