In-state rivalry, bowl eligibility and quarterback chaos, oh my!
The Virginia Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4 ACC) and Virginia Tech Hokies (5-6, 3-4) close out their regular seasons with each team in need of 1 more win to secure bowl eligibility.
Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry is in search of his second bowl in as many seasons, while the Cavaliers haven’t played in the postseason since a 2019 Orange Bowl loss.
The fun doesn’t stop there, with health question marks for Virginia Tech’s first- and second-string quarterbacks, going against the always chaotic Anthony Colandrea of Virginia.
The in-state rivalry hasn't been much of a rivalry, with the Hokies winning 22 of the last 24 over Virginia.
With so much on the line, Virginia Tech enters as a -7 home favorite with the over/under sitting at 48.5. The Hokies are 14-5 ATS when favored by at least three points over the Cavaliers. Does that trend continue in 2024?
Let's dive into my Virginia vs. Virginia Tech predictions and college football picks for Saturday, Nov. 30.
Virginia vs Virginia Tech Prediction
- Virginia vs. Virginia Tech Pick: Virginia Tech -7
My Virginia Tech vs. Virginia best bet is on the Hokies to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Virginia vs Virginia Tech Odds
| Virginia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7 -110 | 48.5 -110 / -110 | +220 |
| Virginia Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7 -110 | 48.5 -110 / -110 | -270 |
- Virginia vs Virginia Tech Spread: Virginia +7 (-110) · Virginia Tech -7 (-110)
- Virginia vs Virginia Tech Over/Under: 48.5 Points
- Virginia vs Virginia Tech Moneyline: Virginia +220 · Virginia Tech -270
Virginia vs Virginia Tech Preview
Virginia Cavaliers Betting Preview: A Roller-Coaster Season
Much like the play of Colandrea, it’s been an up-and-down season for Virginia.
The Cavaliers are fresh off their worst offensive performance of the season, in which SMU held Virginia to just seven points and 173 yards of total offense. Colandrea’s 108 passing yards were the second-fewest of his career in a game that he started.
The only other game in which Colandrea had fewer yards this season was the previous week against Notre Dame, where the sophomore quarterback was benched at the half in favor of Tony Muskett.
Colandrea brings an added rushing element that Muskett does not, but the former is extremely turnover-prone, having thrown 20 interceptions in 19 career games.
Virginia also suffered two big blows to its running game in its loss to SMU, with injuries to its top two rushers.
Xavier Brown (488 rushing yards) broke his collarbone and is out for the season, while Kobe Pace ( 499 rushing yards) has been listed as day-to-day all week with a knee injury.
That’s tough news for a team whose defense has struggled down the stretch, allowing at least 33 points in four of its last five games. Virginia ranks 15th in the ACC in passing defense and has held just two ACC opponents to fewer than 20 points.
Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Preview: Quarterback Questions
For what it’s worth, Virginia Tech has to be one of the best six-loss teams in the country. The Hokies have dropped three straight, however, including a three-point loss to Duke last weekend in a game in which Tech had possession of the ball as time expired.
The biggest uncertainty for Virginia Tech entering the season finale is who will line up at quarterback.
Pry listed both Kyron Drones and Collin Schlee as "questionable" at his weekly press conference, which would leave the Hokies with freshman William Watson III for another week.
Watson played fine given the circumstances of being thrown into the game unexpectedly against Duke, but the presence of Drones brings a whole different element of offense with his ability to run as well as pass.
One good piece of news from the Duke game was the return of running back Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten has been banged up for much of the second half of the season but is still one of only two backs in the ACC averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game.
His 13 rushing touchdowns are the second-most in the conference despite having carried the ball 94 fewer times than conference-leader Omarion Hampton.
Tech’s defense has been pretty average as a whole. The Hokies rank 47th in Pass Success Rate allowed and do a decent job of generating a good bit of Havoc. Virginia Tech is sixth in the ACC in sacks (31) and tackles for loss (71).
Virginia vs Virginia Tech Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Virginia and Virginia Tech match up statistically:
Virginia Offense vs. Virginia Tech Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 82 | 64 | |
| Line Yards | 45 | 45 |  |
| Pass Success | 114 | 47 | |
| Havoc | 103 | 32 | |
| Finishing Drives | 113 | 7 | |
| Quality Drives | 122 | 30 | |
Virginia Tech Offense vs. Virginia Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 81 | 62 | |
| Line Yards | 87 | 99 | |
| Pass Success | 108 | 119 | |
| Havoc | 122 | 103 | |
| Finishing Drives | 39 | 95 | |
| Quality Drives | 116 | 96 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 105 | 5 |
| PFF Coverage | 84 | 82 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 66 | 41 |
| Middle 8 | 118 | 48 |
| Seconds per Play | 25.9 (42) | 26.9 (59) |
| Rush Rate | 52% (96) | 58% (37) |
Virginia vs Virginia Tech Pick & Prediction
There’s a lot of uncertainty on both offenses, but the ceiling is higher on the side of Virginia Tech.
Whoever plays at quarterback for the Cavaliers is not a great option, and none of their top two backs are healthy enough to shoulder the load of carrying the offense.
Virginia Tech may be without Drones, but it still has a 1,000-yard rusher to turn to and the better of the two defenses in this matchup.
The Hokies have dominated this rivalry since the turn of the millennium, and I see no reason for that to change.
The game is in Blacksburg with a crowd that will be fired up to help its team reach a bowl game, so I’m more than comfortable swallowing the points.
Pick: Virginia Tech -7
Virginia vs Virginia Tech Start Time, TV Channel, Location, How to Watch
| Location: | Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA |
| Date: | Saturday, Nov. 30 |
| Kickoff Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ACC Network |
Virginia meets Virginia Tech in an in-state rivalry on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
Virginia vs Virginia Tech Betting Trends
Virginia vs Virginia Tech Weather
