Hokies' perfect start faces a stiffer test against Richmond

Virginia Tech leads its series with Richmond 2-1 in three meetings since 2007, and the most recent meeting went the Hokies' way too, a 74-58 win in March 2024. That edge now comes with fresh weight behind it, since this is a non-conference matchup between a team playing its best basketball in years and one trying to shake off a stumble.

Virginia Tech is 4-0 and carries the best record in the sport right now, having outscored its last four opponents by an average of 22 points. Versus has rewarded that with a 30-spot climb from a preseason rank of 60 up to 30, backed by an A+ offense and an A defense. Richmond, at 3-1, has climbed 26 spots of its own, from 204 to 178, but it arrives having just suffered its first loss to an unranked opponent this season, falling at S Illinois.

Versus still grades Richmond's offense and power numbers at an A- apiece, so this is not a mismatch on paper. But the projection favors Virginia Tech to win 84-72, giving the Hokies an 80 percent chance, a reflection of a team that has looked sharper against every opponent it has faced so far this season.