Week 9: Boston College at Virginia Tech

The game of the year to this point in the ACC also happens to be the game of the week in all of college football. Boston College, which is off to its best start since 1942, and Virginia Tech meet in Blacksburg, with each team having had 12 days to prepare for the showdown.

As it turns out, 12 days might not be enough time for the Hokies. Starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a sprained right ankle in Virginia Tech’s 43-14 victory over Duke on Oct. 13, and his status for the game is questionable.

Taylor, who has been a bigger threat as a runner than as a passer so far in his freshman season, has been jogging on an underwater treadmill to help his recovery process. But his reps in practice have been limited.

“I’m concentrating on getting ready for the game Thursday night,” Taylor said. “I need to give my full attention to that. I’ll have no further comment until after the game.”

Said Virginia Tech trainer Mike Goforth: “I’m cautiously optimistic about his chances of playing Thursday. I think he’s doing great.”

If Taylor can’t play or is unable to play effectively, the Hokies have an experienced backup in fourth-year junior Sean Glennon. Glennon has gotten most of the snaps with the first team in practice this week, and he is coming off a performance in which he completed 16 of 21 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Blue Devils in relief of Taylor.

Of course, Duke’s defense is nowhere near as strong as Boston College’s. The Eagles enter the game with a unit that is accomplished against the run and the pass, leading the nation in rushing yards allowed (46.4 per game) and interceptions (18).

The Hokies, meanwhile, have struggled to move the ball all season. Virginia Tech, which has won five consecutive games since getting blown out 48-7 at LSU in the second week of the season, ranks No. 112 out of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense (298.9 yards per game).

And while Virginia Tech faces a big question at quarterback, Boston College counters with an exclamation point. Senior quarterback Matt Ryan is a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, having thrown for 2,148 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. The Eagles also have a solid running game, with senior tailback Andre Callender having scored three touchdowns in each of the last two games.

The Hokies will have their hands full as they try to stop BC’s balanced attack, but they have been successful on defense all season except in the LSU game. Virginia Tech ranks No. 13 in the country in total defense (302.1 ypg), including No. 17 against the run (98.0 ypg), and No. 8 in points allowed (16.0 per game). Getting pressure on Ryan will be important, but it’s not easy. The Hokies are fifth in the country in sacks (3.7 per game), but the Eagles have allowed just six sacks all season.

Ryan is 21-4 in his college career as a starter, including a 22-3 victory over Virginia Tech last season. That game, just like this one, came on a Thursday night. Virginia Tech is 13-2 on ESPN’s Thursday night broadcasts, but both of those losses came at the hands of the Eagles.

Boston College triumphed last year when its defense came up with four takeaways (two fumble recoveries and two interceptions) and a safety. The Hokies likely will take better care of the ball in this matchup, but the Eagles still should win.

The teams have similar defenses, and Boston College’s offense is vastly superior to Virginia Tech’s. Unless the Hokies can make some of their patented magic on special teams, Boston College should keep rolling.

Boston College by 7