Virginia Tech's Drones Sidelined By Back Woes Vs. Syracuse
Injury Update
Drones quarterback Grant Wells will miss Saturday's game against Syracuse with a back injury, coach Brent Pry announced Monday. Wells suffered the injury in the first half of the Hokies' 27-10 loss to Old Dominion on Saturday. He was replaced by true freshman Devin Brown, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Redshirt senior Connor Blumrick is expected to start at quarterback for Virginia Tech against Syracuse. Blumrick has started 15 games in his career, including 10 last season. He has completed 59.7% of his passes for 2,342 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Syracuse's Defense
Syracuse's defense is ranked 39th in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 20.0 points per game. The Orange have also forced 10 turnovers this season, which is tied for 11th in the country.
Syracuse's defense is led by linebacker Mikel Jones, who has 34 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception this season. Jones is a two-time All-ACC selection and was named a preseason All-American by Phil Steele.
The Orange also have a talented secondary, led by safety Ja'Had Carter. Carter has 28 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery this season. He was named a preseason All-ACC selection by Phil Steele.
Outlook
Virginia Tech will be a heavy underdog against Syracuse on Saturday. The Orange are a 13-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Hokies will need to play a near-perfect game to have a chance to win. They will need to protect the ball, avoid turnovers and make big plays on offense. The defense will also need to play well and force some turnovers.
If Virginia Tech can play a complete game, they have a chance to pull off the upset. But it will be a tough task against a talented Syracuse team.