Both teams come off a bye here and I think that will help the Hokies better even as the road team. Pitt is still one of the youngest teams in the country with Sophomores making all the noise and I think coming off a bye along with the fact that they are just going to be too juiced for this game is going to create issues in a game where VA Tech should have a lot of success on defense.
Pittsburgh's 3 game losing streak has come in the hands of teams that can stop the run. All 3 losses Pitt has been held under 5 yards per carry and under 200 yards rushing. Iowa ranked 70th vs. the run is much better than that ranking and they won at Pitt, Akron ranked 38th beat Pitt and held them to 10 points, and Virginia ranked 9th vs. run also defeated Pitt at home. While VA Tech is ranked 32nd they are much better in my opinion. The only teams to average more than 3 yards per carry were UNC and Georgia Tech. UNC runs with their talented QB while Georgia Tech has the triple option. Pitt won't be running with their QB, but giving the ball to James Conner who has slowed down significantly once the competition was better and teams realized Pitts was not going to beat them deep.
VA Tech has played well on the road this year and historically well on Thursday nights. They are also better on offense and defense vs. a more challenging schedule YTD on third downs and in the red zone. VA Tech can stop the run and set up third and longs and their pass protection and pass rushes are better. Pitt's pass defense looks like a top 10 unit, but they've faced passing offenses ranked 110, 116, 71, 114, and 95. If VA Tech doesn't make too many mistakes they win this game.
