Virginia Tech Hokies

ACC Championship: 3 Keys for Virginia Tech to Upset Clemson

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Virginia Tech Hokies have a big matchup with Clemson this weekend, here are three keys to pulling off the upset.

The Hokies have lost three games in a row to the Clemson Tigers. This includes a 38-10 loss in the 2011 ACC Championship Game. Under ACC Coach of the Year Justin Fuente, expect the Hokies to give the Tigers a run for their money.

The Tigers have had a few close calls this season, which certainly bodes well for the Hokies. They needed overtime to win over the NC State Wolfpack 24-17 and they lost at home to Pittsburgh 43-42 on a last-second field goal.

The Virginia Tech defense has played strong in their big games if you don’t count the Tennessee game, but the offense also had five turnovers. The Hokies are certainly not overmatched, but they’ll need to be focused this week against a very good Clemson team if they want to pull off an upset. Coach Fuente should have them well prepared as should defensive coordinator Bud Foster.

As the Hokies prepare for their for ACC Championship game since 2011, they’ll not only need to play perfect, but they’ll need to follow these three keys in order to pull off the upset.

Nov 19, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

3. Getting Pressure on the Quarterback

Quarterback pressure was key, particularly against Miami and Pittsburgh, in getting victories this season for the Hokies.

The Hokies defense recorded eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss in their 37-16 win over Miami. Against Pittsburgh, the Hokies had seven tackles for loss and two turnovers to jump to an early lead. In their nine wins, Virginia Tech has 22 sacks. In their three losses, they have four sacks.

They’ll need to get quarterback Deshaun Watson uncomfortable early and often to disrupt the Tigers flow on offense. Led by defensive ends Ken Ekanem and Woody Baron, look for the Hokies to give Clemson some trouble in the early going.

Watson threw three interceptions in the Tigers 43-42 loss a few weeks ago. Getting pressure on Watson has been key to a lot of the Clemson quarterback’s turnovers this year.

Look for Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster to dial up some early blitzes. The key will be throwing Watson’s timing off in the passing game and forcing turnovers.

Nov 12, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mandatory Credit: Garrett Reid-USA TODAY Sports

2. Limiting Turnovers on Offense

In their three losses this season, Virginia Tech has turned the ball over 11 times. The Hokies will need to limit the fumbled snaps and miscues this week in order to stay in the game.

The offense had five turnovers against Tennessee early in the season in a 45-24 loss. Against Syracuse, the Hokies dropped the game while turning it over twice. Against Georgia Tech, to clinch the ACC Coastal title the first time, the Hokies turned it over four times.

The Hokies offense faces a Clemson team with 42 sacks on the season, good for second in the conference. Quarterback Jerod Evans will need to be prepared and limit the turnovers for the offense this week. Evans had a fumble and an interception, two uncharacteristic plays from him, that cost the Hokies in the game against Syracuse.

If the Hokies can control the turnover margin in the game, look for them to pull off an upset. It would be interesting to see them spoil Clemson’s College Football Playoff hopes.

Sep 3, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Isaiah Ford (1) and Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Cam Phillips (5) reacts before the game against the Liberty Flames at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

1. Get the Ball to the Big Three

The Virginia Tech Hokies biggest key to pulling off the upset is getting the ball to their playmakers: The Big Three. Those players are receivers Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips and tight end Bucky Hodges.

Receiver Isaiah Ford is fourth in the ACC with 949 receiving yards this season. He averages 79.1 receiving yards per game. Ford is tied for seventh in the ACC with seven receiving touchdowns.

Fellow receiver Cam Phillips is coming into his own as well. He is ninth in the conference with 776 receiving yards this season. He averages 64.7 receiving yards per game.

Then there’s tight end Bucky Hodges. He’s had a quiet year in the receiving yard department with 598 receiving yards. He averages 49.8 receiving yards per game. But he still has seven receiving touchdowns, which ties for seventh in the ACC as well.

These guys really excel well in open space. The key to this game will be getting all three of them going in the passing game early. All three of them are due for big games as the ACC Championship is on the line.