Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 7th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Metallica's "Enter Sandman" will reverberate once again through a packed sold-out crowd this Saturday before Virginia Tech takes the field for their home opener against Marshall.
For the past 24 seasons, the iconic song has echoed through Lane Stadium.
However, there is an underlying sense of dissatisfaction in Blacksburg, Virginia as the Hokies (0-1) are coming off a disappointing 34-27 overtime loss to perennial SEC underdog Vanderbilt.
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This defeat was a sour start to a season filled with high expectations. With a roster stacked with returning players from last year's 7-6 team, the Hokies were on the cusp of being ranked in the preseason, finishing second among "others receiving votes" in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.
But the stumble in Nashville brings head coach Brent Pry's record to 10-15. Now, in his third year at the helm, he is feeling the pressure as he prepares to face a Marshall team (1-0) that handed him a 24-17 loss last September.
"We are well aware of the expectations," Pry stated on Tuesday. "We are certainly disappointed with our performance. However, we can use this as a learning experience and strive to improve and be a better team this Saturday."
This year's Marshall team is vastly different from the one that upset Virginia Tech last season. Quarterback Cam Fancher has transferred to Florida Atlantic, and running back Rasheen Ali, who dominated the Hokies with 174 yards and two touchdowns, is now playing for the Baltimore Ravens.
Marshall is coming off a dominant 45-3 victory at home last week against Stony Brook, an FCS team that went winless last year. The Thundering Herd utilized three quarterbacks, each throwing at least one touchdown pass. This was the first time Marshall has achieved this feat since 1932.
Stone Earle, a transfer from North Texas who started on Saturday, and Braylon Braxton, a transfer from Tulsa, both threw two touchdown passes, while Cole Pennington, son of former Marshall star quarterback Chad Pennington, added another scoring toss.
On Tuesday, Marshall's head coach Charles Huff, who led the Thundering Herd to a 6-7 record last season, remained tight-lipped about who would start against Virginia Tech.
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"I am not sure yet because their statistics are almost identical," Huff said.
Virginia Tech will be looking to start strong after falling behind 17-0 at Vanderbilt. Quarterback Kyron Drones threw an early interception but bounced back, completing 22 of 33 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns.
"It has been four years since a group-of-5 school has come into Lane Stadium and walked away with a win," Huff remarked, referring to Liberty's 38-35 victory in Blacksburg last year. "So, this is definitely a daunting task."