VA Tech vs. Vanderbilt Odds & Betting Predictions - August 31, 2024

Hail Mary Longshot Pick of the Week

Follow On X: https://x.com/PicksOffice If Virginia Tech can bring another good defense this year, as registered nationally at 51st last year with an average of 23.9 points allowed per game, then you would expect a team that features nine starters returning to be able to handle the points they surrender from opponents. Finishing their season with big plays defensively were key returning starters Keli Lawson. The defense permitted 16 touchdowns via the pass as well as 21 touchdowns via the run last season. The opposing teams averaged 4.2 yards during every rush and 148.0 yards during each game. In 13 games, altogether, Virginia Tech afforded 1,924 yards of rushing, which is a collective showing of good but not-so-impenetrable run defense. On the other hand, Vanderbilt's offense ranked 104th in the country last season, scoring only 22.8 points per game. Even with a new quarterback in Diego Pavia, an New Mexico State transfer who had been the 2023 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, amassing 39 career passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns, these numbers aren't really that straightforward to conclude what it would do in boosting their offensive output, particularly against the true Virginia Tech defense. Also, the ACC is one of the deeper and improved conferences in the country, so Virginia Tech should be above average this year and has a lot returning on defense. That could mean Vandy can't score in droves, and a lower-scoring game might be likely.