Old Dominion @ Virginia Tech preview

The one-game-at-a-time mantra surrounding No. 13 Virginia Tech looms large as the Hokies prepare to host Old Dominion on Saturday -- one week prior to their ACC opener versus No. 2 Clemson. Virginia Tech also has a license to feel good about itself after a 64-17 dismantling of East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., last week, but the focus appears to be on the Monarchs.

"Like coach said in the Sunday meeting, he said everybody's going to distract us with other things," Hokies junior defensive tackle Ricky Walker told The Roanoke Times. "But we've got to focus on this week, and that's (Old Dominion). We've just got to keep a tunnel vision and just block everything else out and just worry about the Monarchs. ... They won 10 ballgames (last year)." Virginia Tech is bidding for its first undefeated regular season since 2011 -- its only one over the last 10 seasons -- and has a good shot with freshman quarterback Josh Jackson running the show. His collegiate career is off to a stellar start as 55-for-85 passing for 829 yards and eight touchdowns against zero interceptions would attest. Old Dominion, which is playing its fourth FBS season and is the defending Conference USA East Division co-champion, is coming off a 53-23 loss to North Carolina after opening with victories over FCS member Albany and Massachusetts.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra. LINE: Virginia Tech -27.5

ABOUT OLD DOMINION (2-1): Freshman quarterback Steven Williams, 17, will make his first career start after entering the North Carolina game in the second quarter and completing 9-of-20 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. “Everybody played better once he came in,” Monarchs coach Bobby Wilder told reporters. “There’s just more energy; they took more ownership. I challenged everybody: You’ve got a freshman quarterback out there playing for the first time; you’ve got to play better.” It appears junior wide receiver Travis Fulgham has already become Williams' favorite target as the pair hooked up for a 71-yard touchdown last week.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (3-0): Cam Phillips has benefited the most from Jackson's torrid start as the senior wide receiver has already matched a career high with five touchdown receptions and is averaging 15.4 yards on 27 catches after recording 189 yards on 14 catches with three TDs last week. Jackson (115 yards, one touchdown) is among three players with more than 100 rushing yards, joining junior Travon McMillian (121, one TD) and sophomore Deshawn McClease (113, one). The Hokies will again be without junior cornerback Adonis Alexander, who remains suspended after missing the East Carolina game and recording 14 tackles (one for loss) and three pass breakups in the season's first two contests.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Phillips needs 19 catches to surpass Isaiah Ford's school record of 210 and is on pace to shatter Ford's record of 79 receptions in a season set in 2016.

2. Virginia Tech is 38-0 at home versus non-conference foes since 1996 when scoring 30 or more points.

3. Old Dominion, which is 0-8 versus Power Five opponents, is 69-31 since 2009 and 23-17 since becoming an FBS team in 2014.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 42, Old Dominion 14