Free College Football Picks Today: Viriginia Tech Hokies vs West Virginia Mountaineers 9/22/22

The Virginia Tech Hokies (2-1, 2-0 Home) and their stifling defense play host to the West Virginia University Mountaineers (1-2, 0-1 Away) and their outstanding offense at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field on Thursday. The Mountaineers are 2.5-point favorites, and the total is 52.West Virginia is coming off a one-sided 65-7 win over Towson at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday. JT Daniels was 16 of 24 for 174 yards and a touchdown. Tony Mathis Jr. ran 17 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Cortez Braham caught five passes for 60 yards. Virginia Tech beat Wofford 27-7 at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field on Saturday. Grant Wells threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns. Jalen Holston carried 16 times for 66 yards and a touchdown. Jadan Blue also scored once. He had four receptions for 61 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Mountaineers won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 27-21 victory in September. Jarret Doege threw two touchdowns for West Virginia. Braxton Burmeister tossed two touchdowns for Virginia Tech.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Mountaineers are averaging 46.0 points per game so far this season, 11th in FBS, and they are facing a Hokies defense that has surrendered 12.3 PPG (16th). Meanwhile, Virginia Tech has scored 23.7 points a game this season, 102nd in the nation, and West Virginia is allowing 33.3 PPG (104th).The Mountaineers rank 28th in the country in passing yards per game (293.7) and 28th in rushing (217.3). They can expect a tough test, as the Hokies are 16th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (159.0) and third against the run (40.7).Virginia Tech is 87th in the country in passing yards per game (225.0) and 88th in rushing (141.3), while the Mountaineers are allowing 208.3 passing yards (61st) and 119.3 rushing yards per game (50th).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through three games, Daniels has thrown for six touchdowns (2 INT) and 249.0 yards per game to lead West Virginia in passing. In one prior away game this season, he had two TDs (1 INT) and 214 yards passing. CJ Donaldson leads the team in rushing with an average of 91.3 yards a game over three games. He has six touchdowns on the ground. Bryce Ford-Wheaton is the Mountaineers’ leading receiver with 98.7 yards a game and four TDs. Wells has four passing touchdowns (4 INT) with 215.7 yards per game through three games to lead Virginia Tech. In two home games this season, he has thrown for three TDs and an average of 227.0 yards. Keshawn King has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 87.5 yards a game through two games. He has two total touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. Kaleb Smith has been a key target in the Hokies’ passing game. He has one touchdown and a 43.7 yard per game average through three appearances.