Virginia Tech Hokies vs Vanderbilt Commodores Betting Pick & Prediction 8/31/24

ESPN will be televising the week one non-conference matchup between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Vanderbilt Commodores, set to kick off at 12:00 ET from FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. This will be the first game of the season for both teams, with the Hokies favored by -13.5 points. The over/under line is currently at 53.5 points.

VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES VS VANDERBILT COMMODORES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Vanderbilt Commodores +13.5

This game will be played at FirstBank Stadium at 12:00 ET on Saturday, August 31st.

WHY BET THE VANDERBILT COMMODORES:

• We have the Virginia Tech Hokies winning this one by a score of 31 to 19
• Even though we like the Virginia Tech Hokies to win, our ATS pick is to take the Vanderbilt Commodores at +13.5
• We see this game finishing below the line of 53.5 points

Will The Virginia Tech Hokies Win As Road Favorites?

Virginia Tech is coming off a season in which they went 7-6 overall, including a 4-2 record at home and 3-4 on the road. Last season, they were favored in seven of their 13 games, finishing 4-3 as the favorite and 3-2 as the underdog. The Hokies are currently ranked 50th in our pre-season power rankings, with a 69.1% chance of being bowl-eligible.

Looking at the futures odds, Virginia Tech has a 2.5% chance of winning the Atlantic Coast Conference according to our pre-season rankings. In the futures market, they are listed at +920 to win the conference, giving them an implied 10% chance, which is the 6th best odds out of the 17 teams in the conference.

Virginia Tech’s passing game averaged 201.5 yards per game last season, ranking 81st in the country. The Hokies were more successful on the ground, finishing 25th in rush yards per game with 190.2. Overall, they ranked 41st in the nation in scoring, putting up 29.5 points per game. However, their third-down conversion rate was just 34.9%, placing them 102nd nationally.

Quarterback Kyron Drones, who threw for 2,085 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, returns as the top passer for the Hokies. Virginia Tech also brought in Collin Schlee from UCLA to bolster the quarterback room. In the backfield, Bhayshul Tuten, who rushed for 863 yards last season, is back for another year. The Hokies will also be looking for big contributions from returning receiver Da’Quan Felton, who had 667 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season.

Virginia Tech’s defense was effective against the pass last season, allowing just 168.8 passing yards per game, which ranked 18th in the nation. However, they struggled to stop the run, giving up 148.7 rushing yards per game. Overall, the Hokies finished 39th in the country, allowing 23.9 points per game. Opposing quarterbacks completed 61.7% of their passes against Virginia Tech last season.

Are The Vanderbilt Commodores Going Win In At Upset At FirstBank Stadium

Last season, Vanderbilt was 2-4 at home and 0-6 on the road, finishing with a 2-10 overall record. They were favored in three of their 12 games, going 0-3 as the favorite and 2-7 as the underdog. Heading into this season, Vanderbilt is ranked 76th in our pre-season power rankings, with just a 17.8% chance of being bowl-eligible.

As for their odds in the Southeastern Conference, Vanderbilt is a long shot at +72000 to win the title, the worst in the conference. Their chances of making it to the Conference final are set at +41250, with an implied probability of 0%.

Vanderbilt’s offense last season was led by quarterback Diego Pavia, who threw for 2,973 yards and 26 touchdowns at New Mexico State. The Commodores are hoping for a big season from Pavia, who completed 60.4% of his passes last year. Overall, Vanderbilt’s passing game averaged 223.7 yards per game, ranking 75th in the country. However, the Commodores struggled on third down, converting just 32.7% of their opportunities (110th).

In the running game, Sedrick Alexander returns as the top rusher for Vanderbilt, having gained 371 yards last season. The Commodores also added Jamoni Jones from New Mexico State to bolster their backfield. Last year, Vanderbilt averaged just 96.8 rushing yards per game, which was 119th nationally. Overall, the Commodores averaged 22.8 points per game, ranking 82nd in the country.

Vanderbilt’s defense struggled last season, allowing 36.2 points per game. They had a tough time stopping the run, giving up 176.6 rushing yards per game, which ranked 133rd in the nation. Their pass defense was also a weakness, ranking 173rd in passing yards allowed. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 139 against the Commodores. Overall, Vanderbilt’s defense will need to improve in all areas heading into this season.