Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 11, 2017 ) Virginia Tech 22, Georgia Tech 28

Virginia Tech looks to contain the nation’s most productive rushing offense and remain unbeaten in the ACC Coastal Division when it hosts inconsistent Georgia Tech on Thursday night. The Hokies, who are ranked 27th in the country in rushing defense, rallied to beat North Carolina 22-19 before their bye week and will go to work on a Georgia Tech triple-option attack that has averaged 352 yards on the ground.

“Time of possession is going to be huge for us,” Virginia Tech quarterback Ryan Willis told reporters. “Eliminating three and outs and giving our defense some rest (is important), because that triple option can go for a long time on the field. We just need to do our best, execute our plays and take care of the ball.” The Hokies have knocked off Florida State, Duke and North Carolina en route to first place alone in the Coastal, but have the four teams with winning records in conference play left on the schedule after meeting the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech rolled up 129 points combined to defeat Bowling Green and Louisville before suffering three fumbles on the way to a 28-14 loss on Oct. 13 in its last contest, and needs three wins over the final five games to qualify for a bowl. “What I want to accomplish is to go up there and not lay the ball on the ground. … and not beat (ourselves) and give (us) a chance to win,” Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson told reporters. “I think when we’ve done that, we’ve been pretty competitive and can be a pretty good team. There’s a small margin for error.”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Virginia Tech -3

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (3-4, 1-3 ACC): The Yellow Jackets were held to 229 yards on the ground by Duke, including a team-high 62 from sophomore Jerry Howard, and senior quarterback TaQuon Marshall was held to a season-low 41. Marshall, who is probable with an upper-body injury, leads the team in rushing with 598 yards and nine of its 30 touchdowns on the ground while freshman running back Jordan Mason is next with 482. The Yellow Jackets’ defense has had its moments this season, producing three touchdowns, and senior lineman Anree Saint-Amour boasts four sacks and three forced fumbles the past three games.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (4-2, 3-0): Willis put together an 18-play, 98-yard drive that ended on a touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Keene with 19 seconds left to beat North Carolina in his third start since taking over for injured Josh Jackson. “He is tough and he’s a competitor,” Hokies coach Justin Fuente told reporters of Willis, who has seven TDs and 862 yards passing the last three games. “He stayed in there and battled and scratched and clawed and put together a nice drive.” Sophomore Damon Hazelton (29 catches, 515 yards, five TDs) and junior Eric Kumah (21, 317, two) are the top options for Willis.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Virginia Tech is 23-9 on ESPN’s Thursday Night Football package and 6-0 against the Yellow Jackets on Thursday all time - the last being 23-21 in 2015.

2. Georgia Tech has won in its last two trips to Blacksburg, Va., and took three of the past four in the series, including last year’s battle 28-22 at home.

3. The Yellow Jackets have forced 16 turnovers - tied for 14th in the country - after finishing with 10 in 11 games last season.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 31, Georgia Tech 21