Old Dominion Monarchs vs Virginia Tech Hokies Picks and Predictions September 14th 2024

ESPN+ will be covering the week three non-conference matchup between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Old Dominion Monarchs, scheduled for 6:00 ET on Saturday, September 14th, at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk. The Hokies are favored by -14 on the road, and the over/under line is currently set at 50 points. Virginia Tech has a 1-1 record, while Old Dominion is looking for their first win of the season.

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Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion Key Information

• Teams: Hokies at Monarchs
• Where: S.B. Ballard Stadium Norfolk
• Date: Saturday, September 14th
• Betting Odds VTECH -600 | OLD +427 O/U 50

The Hokies Can Win If…

Virginia Tech is now 1-1 after their 31-14 win over Marshall. The Hokies were -21 point favorites but ended up winning by 17, resulting in a push for bettors. The game’s over/under line was 53.5 points, but the total score was 45, falling short of the line.

Virginia Tech led 7-0 after the first quarter, but Marshall outscored them 10-7 in the second quarter, making it 10-7 at halftime. The Hokies then outscored Marshall 14-7 in the third quarter and added another 7 points in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Virginia Tech’s offense was effective in their 31-14 win, racking up 338 total yards and 20 first downs. The Hokies’ ground game was particularly strong, with 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Bhayshul Tuten led the way with 120 yards on 22 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt, and adding one touchdown. Kyron Drones, the team’s quarterback, contributed 66.7% completion percentage for 130 yards and one touchdown, finishing with a passer rating of 99.31.

Stephen Gosnell was the top receiver for Virginia Tech, with two catches for 54 yards. The Hokies’ balanced attack kept Marshall’s defense off-balance and allowed them to control the game.

Virginia Tech’s defense was effective in their most recent game, holding Marshall to 14 points and 278 total yards. The Hokies’ secondary was particularly strong, limiting Marshall to just 131 passing yards on 13 completions. Virginia Tech also picked off one pass. However, the Hokies did struggle to contain Marshall’s rushing attack, giving up 147 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown.

• Virginia Tech has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. Their record vs the spread in these matchups is less impressive at 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Virginia Tech Hokies have gone 6-4 straight up. Across these games, their ATS record was just 6-4, while posting an over-under record of 7-3.

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The Monarchs Can Win If…

Old Dominion is looking to bounce back after starting the season 0-2. In their most recent game, the Monarchs were upset at home by East Carolina, with the final score being 20-14. Old Dominion was favored by -1.5 but ended up losing straight-up and against the spread. The over/under line for the game was 53.5 points, but the total score was just 34 points, resulting in an under.

Old Dominion took an early 6-0 lead, but East Carolina responded to take a 7-6 lead by halftime. The Monarchs retook the lead in the third quarter, but they were outscored 3-0 in the fourth quarter to take the loss.

Old Dominion’s offense, led by quarterback Grant Wilson, totaled 287 yards in their 20-14 loss to East Carolina. Wilson completed 58.8% of his passes for 192 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Diante Vines was his top target, catching six passes for 64 yards.

The Monarchs’ offense moved the chains 17 times but struggled to establish the run, finishing with just 95 rushing yards on 41 attempts. Aaron Young led the ground game with 83 yards on 25 carries and scored the team’s only rushing touchdown.

Old Dominion’s defense had a tough time in their most recent game, allowing 466 total yards to East Carolina. The Monarchs struggled to stop the run, giving up 183 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. In the passing game, they allowed 283 yards on 25 completions. Despite these numbers, Old Dominion’s defense managed to come up with four interceptions and held East Carolina to 20 points.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Old Dominion has a record of 1-2. Across these games, their ATS record was just 0-2-1, while posting an over-under record of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Old Dominion has a record of 4-6. Their record against the spread in this stretch is 3-6-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Lean

Our projection for this week three matchup between Virginia Tech and Old Dominion is a final score of 35-20 in favor of the Hokies. Virginia Tech is favored by -14, and we expect them to cover the spread comfortably.

With the over/under line set at 50 points, our recommendation is to take the over, as our projected total of 55 points suggests there is good value in this bet.

Virginia Tech Seeks Elusive Road Win at Old Dominion

Power conference teams rarely travel to play on the road at Group of Five schools, and Virginia Tech knows firsthand why. Over the past six years, the Hokies have visited Old Dominion twice, returning with losses both times. As they prepare to face the Monarchs again on Saturday in Norfolk, the Hokies (1-1) are determined to rewrite their history in this in-state rivalry.

Hokies’ Struggles at Old Dominion

Virginia Tech has had success against Old Dominion at home, including a 36-17 victory in last season’s opener. However, the road has been a different story. The Hokies have yet to win in Norfolk, losing two previous matchups. Their last trip, in 2021, ended in a frustrating 20-17 defeat.

Old Dominion head coach Ricky Rahne understands the significance of the game for the Monarchs and their fan base: “I’m not naive,” Rahne said. “I recognize that Virginia Tech is an important game. It’s important to me. It’s important to our school. It’s important to our fan base.”

Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry, while focused on the task ahead, acknowledged the challenge: “These contracts are in place well ahead of time. I don’t worry about things I can’t control,” Pry said. “We’ve gotta be the type of team that can go to Old Dominion and win the football game.”

It’s also a personal challenge for Pry, whose head coaching debut in 2021 came with a loss to Old Dominion.

Virginia Tech’s Offensive Threats

Bhayshul Tuten and Kyron Drones Leading the Way

Virginia Tech is coming off a solid 31-14 victory over Marshall, highlighted by running back Bhayshul Tuten’s performance. Tuten rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, showing his potential as a game-changer.

Quarterback Kyron Drones adds another dimension to the Hokies’ offense. Drones has completed 66.7% of his passes for 452 yards and three touchdowns this season. He’s also a threat on the ground, having rushed for 818 yards and five touchdowns last season.

With Tuten and Drones leading the charge, the Hokies’ offense will be a tough challenge for Old Dominion.

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Old Dominion’s Struggles and Key Injuries

Turnovers and Injuries Holding the Monarchs Back

Old Dominion (0-2) has struggled with turnovers and penalties in the early part of the season. In their season opener, they blew a fourth-quarter lead, losing 23-19 to South Carolina. Last week, they followed it up with a 20-14 loss to East Carolina.

The team’s issues were compounded by injuries. Quarterback Grant Wilson was hurt on the final play of the East Carolina game, leaving his status for Saturday uncertain. Wilson has been a key player for Old Dominion, throwing for 2,538 yards and 19 touchdowns over the past two years. His absence could be a significant blow to the Monarchs’ offense.

Ricky Rahne has remained tight-lipped about Wilson’s availability, as well as the status of All-American linebacker Jason Henderson. Henderson, who led the nation in tackles last season, did not play last week after offseason knee surgery, and his return is still uncertain.

If Wilson can’t play, the Monarchs may turn to Boston College transfer Emmett Morehead or redshirt freshman Colton Joseph to lead the offense.

Key Matchup and What’s at Stake

Can the Hokies Break the Norfolk Curse?

Saturday’s game represents an opportunity for Virginia Tech to shake off their road woes against Old Dominion and build momentum for the rest of the season. A victory would also help Brent Pry overcome the bad memories from his head coaching debut loss to the Monarchs.

For Old Dominion, a win would not only be their first of the season, but it would further establish their reputation as a dangerous underdog against Power Five teams. The Monarchs’ defense will be crucial in trying to contain Virginia Tech’s dynamic offense.

Both teams have much at stake in this high-pressure in-state rivalry.