Now that the 2018 ACC football schedule has been released, here’s a point of interest — who do Virginia Tech’s 2018 ACC opponents play before and after they play the Hokies, and do they get a bye before playing the Hokies?
Virginia Tech opens with Florida State on Sept. 3, so that game doesn’t hold any intrigue from a scheduling standpoint. It’s the season opener, and both teams play an FCS opponent at home the following Saturday (FSU vs. Samford, VT vs. William & Mary).
What about Tech’s other ACC opponents?
Duke:
Sept. 22 NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
Sept. 29 VIRGINIA TECH
Oct. 13 at Georgia Tech
The Blue Devils play FCS North Carolina Central at home the week before hosting the Hokies, then they have a bye, so the schedule doesn’t put any pressure on them before or after the VT game.
UNC:
Sept. 27 at Miami (Thurs.)
Oct. 13 VIRGINIA TECH
Oct. 20 at Syracuse
The Tar Heels have a big one at Miami early in their schedule, but they get 16 days off before having to host Virginia Tech. They probably won’t be looking ahead to that trip to Syracuse, so Virginia Tech will have their full attention and preparation, and the Heels will be rested and ready.
Georgia Tech:
Oct. 13 DUKE
Oct. 25 at Virginia Tech (Thurs.)
Nov. 3 at North Carolina
The Yellow Jackets get a bye before playing the Hokies, of course, and Virginia Tech gets a similar bye. GT will travel to UNC following the VT game, but that’s nine days later. Getting a bye week to prepare for the Jackets’ triple option offense is a plus for the Hokies.
Boston College:
Oct. 26 MIAMI (Fri.)
Nov. 3 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 10 CLEMSON
Boston College’s 700-mile road trip to Blacksburg is bracketed by brutal home games against Miami and Clemson, but note that the Miami game is on a Friday, giving BC an extra day to rest and prepare before traveling. This stretch of the schedule is very tough for BC, but that extra day after Miami is a bonus.
Pittsburgh:
Nov. 2 at Virginia (Fri.)
Nov. 10 VIRGINIA TECH
Nov. 17 at Wake Forest
Pitt has to travel to Virginia the week before playing the Hokies. That’s not a hard road venue to play in, and since it’s a Friday game, the Panthers get an extra day to travel and recuperate before hosting the Hokies.
Miami:
Nov. 10 at Georgia Tech
Nov. 17 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 24 PITT
The ‘Canes have back to back roadies to Altanta and Blacksburg, without any extra rest. This is a plus for the Hokies, no question.
Virginia:
Nov. 10 LIBERTY
Nov. 17 at Georgia Tech
Nov. 23 at Virginia Tech (Fri.)
This is one of the worst scheduling quirks in ACC football in 2018. Virginia has to travel to Georgia Tech to play that nasty triple option offense, then travel to Blacksburg just six days later. Ouch. Looks like 14 going on 15.
ACC Football Schedules for all teams
2018 Virginia Tech Football Schedule
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Wow…feel bad for BC, that is a brutal stretch.
Some additional points:
UNC – vs. Miami – that could be a physical game with the potential for injuries. Even though UNC may have some time after the Miami game, they could come out of it beat up even with rest. I know that could happen in any game but….
Miami vs. GT ….perhaps GT will unleash some of that blocking at the knees of those DL and LBs of Miami…. We always seem to come out of our GT game with injuries….. GT should share that tendency with other opponents. Same with the UVA vs. GT game 🙂
That would be some interesting R&D to see which opponents “caused” the most injuries to VT over the years. It definitely seems that we always end up with guys hurt after GT but I wonder if that is historically the most.
I know you want R&D, but my opinion is that GaTech, Miami, and Pitt have historically been hazardous to Hokie health. GT with their cut blocks, and Miami/Pitt have just historically been snotknockers.