Virginia Tech Football: A 13.5-point Favorite, The Hokies Return a Tons of Talent, Production And More
The Hokies could be in for a battle against the Commodores according the ESPN’s FPI.
As Virginia Tech prepares for their season opener against Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon, DraftKings has them listed as nearly a two-touchdown favorite, with a 13.5-point advantage. The Hokies bring back a wealth of talent and production, while the Commodores are still in a rebuilding phase under coach Clark Lea.
One lesson for Virginia Tech from the Week 0 games is that being a significant favorite doesn’t guarantee an easy win. Just look at Florida State, which lost to Georgia Tech in Ireland, or SMU, which was favored by four touchdowns but had to rally with 16 points in the fourth quarter to secure a narrow victory. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Hokies should brace for a tough matchup in Nashville.
ESPN FPI has Virginia Tech in for a battle at Vanderbilt
As this article is being written, ESPN’s FPI gives Virginia Tech a 57.6% chance of winning at Vanderbilt, which honestly seems a bit low. If this matchup were occurring a year ago, I could understand the close odds, but heading into 2024, the percentage should be higher.
Virginia Tech returns nearly all of its offensive production from last season, including quarterback Kyron Drones, who is set for a strong year alongside running back Bhayshul Tuten and four key receivers, supported by a veteran offensive line facing a defense that ranked 109th in pass defense.
On the defensive side, the Hokies finished strong last year and should improve further this season thanks to returning players and transfer portal additions. However, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia could pose challenges, and the Commodores will be eager to secure a win in this crucial opener for head coach Clark Lea, especially before facing a tough ACC schedule.
In the grand scheme, Virginia Tech has greater talent at every position, so anything less than a victory would be a significant letdown. While ESPN’s FPI of 57.6% seems low in the bigger picture, last weekend showed that games are ultimately decided on the field, and ESPN expects this to be a tighter contest than many anticipate.
