Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion Prediction & Picks: In-State Rivalry

Virginia Tech Hokies (1-1 SU, 0-2 ATS) at Old Dominion Monarchs (0-2, 1-1), 9/14/24

When: 6 pm ET Saturday, Sept. 14

Where: SB Ballard Stadium

TV: ESPN+

Point spread: VT -14/ODU -14

Money line: Va Tech -640/Old Dom. +440

Over/under: 50

It’s the latest edition of a fairly new in-state rivalry when Virginia Tech takes on Old Dominion on Saturday night on the ODU campus in Norfolk.

The Hokies may play out of a Power 4 conference but the Monarchs of the SBC are playing them tough over recent seasons, even pulling a couple upsets.

The Line

Most of the Week 3 NCAAF betting market opened Virginia Tech at -13.5 over Old Dominion, with an O/U of right around 50. Early betting action then hiked the Hokies to -14.

Virginia Tech Betting Preview

The Hokies are 1-1 on the season after beating Marshall last Saturday 31-14. Virginia Tech, favored by 21 points, scored the first 10 points of the game but only led 17-14 well into the third quarter. The Hokies tacked on a couple of scores from there to secure the W but could not cover that number.

Virginia Tech out-gained the Herd 338-278, ran the ball for 208 yards, and won the time of possession by a 36:24 split.

The Hokies opened this season two weeks ago with a 34-27 overtime loss at Vanderbilt. Virginia Tech was favored by 13 points for that game and rallied to lead late but couldn’t hold on against probably the worst team in the SEC.

The Hokies returned 21 starters this season, most in the country, from a team that played 7-6 last year. Even though they haven’t quite shown it yet we consider Virginia Tech a definite contender to make the ACC championship game this season.

Old Dominion Betting Preview

Meanwhile the Monarchs are 0-2 on the season after falling at home to East Carolina last Saturday 20-14. ODU favored at -1.5, led 7-6 at the half but gave up a long Pirates touchdown early in the third quarter to fall behind and couldn’t recover.

Old Dominion got out-gained by East Carolina 466-287.

In fact, if the Monarchs hadn’t intercepted four Pirates passes, they would have probably lost by 20 points.

ODU opened this season two weeks ago with a 23-19 loss at South Carolina. The Monarchs used a couple of long touchdowns to lead that game early in the fourth quarter, and while they blew the upset bid, they covered easily at +20.

Old Dominion only returned ten starters this season from a team that played 6-7 last season. The Monarchs are expected to finish somewhere near the bottom of the SBC’s East Division this year, and a bowl bid seems rather unlikely.

Virginia Tech-Old Dominion Recent History

These teams have met five times over the last seven seasons, the Hokies winning three games outright but the Monarchs going 3-2 ATS.

Most recently, last season, Virginia Tech beat ODU in Blacksburg 36-17, covering the -16 spread. But that game was much closer than that final score might indicate, considering the Hokies only led 21-17 late into the third quarter.

College Football Betting Trends

• Virginia Tech is 5-2 SU, 3-4 ATS vs. non-Power four opponents under Coach Pry.
• Old Dominion is 1-5 SU but 4-2 ATS vs. Power 4 opponents under Coach Rahne.

Totals Report

Totals are split 1-1 in Hokies games this season, which are averaging 53 total points.

Unders are 2-0 in Monarchs games, which are averaging 38 points.

Free College Football Pick

Virginia Tech stumbled in Week 1, then won somewhat underwhelmingly in Week 2. But the Hokies might just be getting warmed up. Their wins O/U for this season was 8.5, and we expect them to cash the Over. For this match-up, Virginia Tech owns the better running game and the better defense, and that’s usually enough for us right there. Plus, playing on the road keeps the spread a bit more manageable. We’re giving the points on Saturday with the Hokies.

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