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The Virginia Tech Hokies (2-2) visit the No. 9 Miami Hurricanes (4-0) Friday at Hard Rock Stadium for each team’s ACC opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Virginia Tech vs. Miami odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Hokies are coming off their 2nd loss of the season, a 26-23 home loss as 3-point favorites vs. Rutgers last Saturday. Virginia Tech dug a giant hole, trailing 14-0 after the 1st quarter and 23-7 early in the 3rd quarter before a flurry of scoring tied things up 23-23. However, the Hokies struggled against the run, and the Scarlet Knights kicked a game-winning field goal with 1:56 to go.
Virginia Tech allowed 422 total yards, 153 rushing, while also turning the ball over 3 times to Rutgers’ 1 TO. That’s not a good recipe for a win, even at home.
Miami trounced in-state rival USF 50-15 in Tampa, covering as a 16.5-point road favorite last Saturday. Miami actually trailed 15-14 late in the 2nd quarter but scored a go-ahead touchdown — and 2-point conversion — with 1:56 to go in the half and outscored the Bulls 28-0 in the 2nd half to win going away. QB Cam Ward threw for 404 yards with 3 TDs — and 1 INT — as he continues to be a great addition out of the transfer portal (from Washington State).
The Hurricanes have scored 50 or more points in 3 straight games, and 41 or more points in all 4 outings. With an O/U push vs. USF, the Over is 3-0-1 for The U this season.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Virginia Tech at Miami odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated Thursday at 5:07 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Virginia Tech +600 (bet $100 to win $600) | Miami -900 (bet $900 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Virginia Tech +17.5 (-110) | Miami -17.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 54.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Virginia Tech at Miami picks and predictions
Prediction
Miami 34, Virginia Tech 23
Moneyline
Miami (-900) will set you back 9 times the potential return. That’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward for a standalone play or for a multi-leg parlay. Including the ‘Canes in a parlay ticket sucks all the value out of it.
PASS.
Against the spread
VIRGINIA TECH +17.5 (-110) is worth a look as the Hokies have the defense to at least slow the Hurricanes’ pass attack.
The Hokies have done a good job against the pass, allowing just 160.0 passing yards per game to rank 28th, according to NCAA.com. Facing Ward will be the biggest test, by far, for the Hokies D, however. The Hokies have issues stopping the run, and the Hurricanes are still good at that.
The ‘Canes offense has been a juggernaut, but the thinking is that the Gobblers will be able to slow them down and keep it within 3 scores.
Over/Under
OVER 54.5 (-105) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at the most.
Miami’s offense has been insanely good so far, going for 52.3 PPG and 605.0 total yards per game, ranked 4th and 2nd, respectively.
Ward has run amok against Florida, USF and 2 lesser opponents. But he has been consistently good, and while it is possible he could be slowed, it doesn’t look like he’ll be completely shut down. The Hurricanes will get their points.
Virginia Tech has cashed the Over in 3 of 4 games to date, while scoring 23 or more points in all 4 outings.
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