Virginia Tech (8-1, 4-1) currently holds a half-game lead over the Jackets in the Coastal. The Hokies have won four in a row since their lone loss of the season, coming to Clemson. But Tech might have been looking ahead a bit to this game as last time out the Hokies squeaked by a bad Duke team 14-10 on Oct. 29. David Wilson, the ACC’s top rusher, had for 148 yards (his sixth straight game of at least 100 yards) and the Hokies won their Atlantic Coast Conference-record 11th straight road game.  However, Tech was a 15-point favorite and was shutout in the second half by the Blue Devils. The Hokies end the season with somewhat challenging games following this one: vs. North Carolina and at Virginia.

Georgia Tech (7-2, 4-2) only has one conference regular-season game after this one: at Duke, which should be a win. The Jackets ended a two-game losing streak last time out with an impressive 31-17 home win over Clemson, still the Tigers’ lone loss of the year. Tech QB Tevin Washington rushed for 176 yards — the most ever by a Yellow Jackets quarterback – in that one to end Clemson’s national title hopes. Overall, Georgia Tech finished with 383 yards on the ground, compared to 95 for Clemson. The Jackets played without two starting offensive linemen in that one, center Jay Finch (missed whole game) and guard Will Jackson (injured during game). Both will start this week.

In each of the six meetings between the two Techs since 2005, the winner went on to represent the Coastal Division in the ACC Championship Game. Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 5-3 and won 28-21 at home last season. The Hokies are 17-5 all-time on ESPN Thursday Night Football. The underdog has covered in each of the past five meetings in this series.

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