Miami vs. Virginia Tech Odds
| Miami Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-19.5 -110 | 54.5 -110o / -110u | -1100 |
| Virginia Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+19.5 -110 | 54.5 -110o / -110u | +700 |
Miami was predicted to finish third in the ACC in the preseason media poll and came into the season ranked No. 19 in the preseason AP Top 25.
Through its first four games, Miami has proven those projections to be far too low.
It's averaging 52.3 points per game through its four-game winning streak, punctuated by dominant road victories over in-state foes Florida and South Florida. This week, the Hurricanes will return home to face Virginia Tech in its ACC opener.
Virginia Tech was seen as a dark horse in the ACC this season, placing sixth in the ACC preseason media poll.
A run at a conference title is still on the table, but it may be unlikely with how the Hokies have looked entering conference play. The Hokies have dropped two of their first four games, losing as 13.5-point favorites at Vanderbilt and as 3.5-point favorites vs. Rutgers last weekend.
With the Hokies underperforming a bit to begin the season, Miami is favored by 18.5 points at home. Friday nights can cause strange things to happen in college football, though, and there was just an upset in the ACC last Friday with Stanford taking down Syracuse on the road.
However, this one may be a game for the Hurricanes' skill players to shine.
Let's get to the Miami vs. Virginia Tech odds, picks and prediction in my same-game parlay.
Miami vs. Virginia Tech Picks, Predictions, Parlay
- Cam Ward 3+ Touchdown Passes (-136)
- Xavier Restrepo 80+ Receiving Yards (-152)
- Isaiah Horton 50+ Receiving Yards (+110)
- Damien Martinez 50+ Rushing Yards (-192)
Parlay Odds: +675 via FanDuel
Please always remember to bet responsibly. SGPs are long shots for a reason.
Cam Ward 3+ Touchdown Passes
From his time as an assistant coach, Mario Cristobal has always been known as a relentless recruiter. However, you would be hard-pressed to find a bigger recruiting win during his Miami tenure than when he secured a commitment from Cam Ward as a transfer last winter.
Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson have handed Ward the reins to the offense and the early dividends have paid off.
Ward has thrown for at least 300 yards and three touchdown passes in each of Miami's first four games, totaling 1,439 yards and 14 touchdown passes against just two interceptions.
Ward has the second-best passing grade in the country, per PFF. He is also currently the betting favorite to win the Heisman.
Between weather factors with Hurricane Helene passing through Florida and Virginia Tech also being vulnerable on the ground, I'm leaving off Ward's passing yards here. However, I do expect his passing touchdowns streak to continue.
In its two games against Power Four opponents, Virginia Tech allowed Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia to go 12-for-16 for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Rutgers' Athan Kaliakmanis did not throw for a touchdown, but he did throw for 269 yards while completing 64% of his passes.
Ward will be the best quarterback the Hokies have faced thus far and likely will see all season. Ward may get his starting left tackle Jalen Rivers back this week and two receivers he will likely be targeting this week are Xavier Restrepo and Isaiah Horton.
Xavier Restrepo 80+ Rec. Yards & Isaiah Horton 50+ Rec. Yards
While Miami did go to the transfer portal to add to its skill players, part of the reason Ward landing in Miami was seen as a seamless fit was because of the talent it returned.
Restrepo was Miami's WR1 last season, and that has not changed thus far. The fifth-year senior leads the team in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, hauling in 20-of-26 targets for 362 yards and five touchdowns.
Restrepo is slippery in space and already has 147 yards after catch this season. He has had 80 receiving yards in three of Miami's first four games this season and six of his last seven games dating back to last season.
In that span, he has five games with 100 yards and five with six receptions or more as well.
Meanwhile, Horton played behind Restrepo, Jacolby George and Colbie Young last season.
With Young transferring to Georgia, Horton has stepped up as Miami's X receiver on the perimeter. He already has 19 receptions for 278 yards and a touchdown this season, surpassing his totals from his first two seasons in Coral Gables.
Horton had 50 receiving yards just three times last season. However, he already has three games with 65 yards this season, including a career-high 108 yards on eight receptions last week.
He's still plus-money for 50 yards this week, and I expect him to team up with Restrepo for at least 130 yards this week.
Damien Martinez 50+ Rushing Yards
Another transfer, Damien Martinez, comes from an Oregon State program where he was the focal point in his two seasons. Now at Miami, the junior has ran for 50 yards in just two of Miami's first four games.
However, with the exception of a strange game for him against Ball State, Martinez has received double digit carries in three games already this season. With 10 carries or more this week, he should be able to get on track against this Virginia Tech defense.
The Hokies are 67th in Rushing Success Rate and 118th in rushing explosiveness defensively. They are also 104th nationally with 181 rushing yards per game. Virginia Tech has allowed a running back to go for 50 yards in each of its first four games.
Multiple ball carriers have run for 50 yards in three of its first four games with Rutgers' Kyle Monangai and Samuel Brown each surpassing 60 yards last week.
Miami will work in Mark Fletcher and Ajay Allen as well, but Martinez leads the team in carries and that should continue once again this week.
Additionally, as a heavy home favorite, Miami may be trying to run out the clock in the fourth quarter. That would give Martinez more opportunity to get 50 rushing yards if he has not gotten there by then already.
