The Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. the Virginia Tech Hokies — a matchup never before seen. Who will win?
Our Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech prediction breaks down everything you need to know — from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both teams as they battle in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech Mayo Bowl Betting Preview
All Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Minnesota -4 - Spread
Minnesota -6.5 - Moneyline
Minnesota -250, Virginia Tech +205 - Over/Under
42.5 points - Game Time
7:30 p.m. ET, Friday, Jan. 3 - Location
Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, N.C. - Predicted Weather at Kick
TBD - How To Watch
ESPN
Virginia Tech hasn’t been all that impressive this season, especially since QB Kyron Drones suffered an injury in Week 9. The program went 1-3 against the spread in its out-of-conference schedule and 1-1 as an underdog.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
Meanwhile, Minnesota has covered in six of its last seven as a favorite and seven of its last eight overall.
The total trends are far more conflicting, with Tech hitting the over in seven of the past 10 contests and Minnesota going under in four of its previous five against ACC opponents.
Minnesota’s Winning Probability
Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck is undefeated in bowl games (5-0), and there’s little reason to believe he’ll suffer his first loss in 2024. However, Minnesota went unranked in the AP Poll and College Football Playoff rankings in back-to-back seasons for the first time since his first two years in Minneapolis (2017-18).
- at Virginia Tech: 61.9%
Virginia Tech’s Winning Probability
After beginning his tenure with a 3-8 campaign, Brent Pry has guided the Hokies to two straight 6-6 seasons with bowl appearances. Yet, his teams have yet to crack the AP Poll or CFP rankings since he landed in Blacksburg.
- vs. Minnesota: 38.1%
Prediction for Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech heads into bowl season with more questions than answers, especially at quarterback. Injuries to Drones and Collin Schlee have left the Hokies potentially relying on freshman William Watson III under center.
Adding to their woes, key players like center Braelin Moore, left tackle Xavier Chaplin, and cornerback Mansoor Delane have entered the transfer portal, leaving significant holes in the lineup. That’s not even mentioning the NFL Draft declarees, such as star RB Bhayshul Tuten.
With a depleted roster and late-season struggles, Virginia Tech will need a miracle to match up against a Minnesota team that thrives on consistency.
MORE: 2024 College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
The Golden Gophers, led by senior QB Max Brosmer, have been quietly effective down the stretch. Brosmer’s efficiency — 66.8% completion rate, 2,617 yards, and an 11:1 TD-to-INT ratio over his last seven games — has kept Minnesota’s offense humming while running back Darius Taylor continues to pile up yards on the ground (185-873-9 rushing line).
With a stout defense and a rather intact roster, Minnesota looks poised to row its way to another bowl victory. Back the Gophers to dominate in a matchup where stability should outshine chaos.
Prediction: Minnesota 28, Virginia Tech 10
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