The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head to Blacksburg this Saturday for their matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the TechMo Bowl rivalry, a contest that has been a near-annual tradition since 2004.
While there’s much to look forward to, the uncertainty surrounding Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King adds a layer of intrigue to the latest betting odds and influences our Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech prediction.
Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech Betting Preview
All Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Virginia Tech -1 - Spread
Virginia Tech -10 - Moneyline
Virginia Tech -375, Georgia Tech +285 - Over/Under
51.5 points - Game time
Noon ET - Location
Lane Stadium | Blacksburg, VA - Predicted Weather at Kick
76 degrees, mostly sunny and warm, 6 mph winds - How to Watch
ACC Network
Though Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech only faced each other once in 1990, the TechMo Bowl has since become a staple matchup on their schedules. While the two didn’t meet in 2020 or 2023, the Yellow Jackets took the last game with a narrow 28-27 win in Blacksburg, cutting Virginia Tech’s series lead to 11-8. Can Brent Key’s squad tighten the gap again in 2024?
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The latest betting odds suggest otherwise. DraftKings has listed the Hokies as moneyline favorites with a 10-point spread, likely factoring in King’s availability for Georgia Tech. However, the CFN FPM sees a much tighter contest, pending official news on the Yellow Jackets’ QB situation.
So far this season, the road team is 1-2 against the spread as an underdog, while the Hokies have covered in their last three games, bringing their record to 3-3 as favorites. Five of Georgia Tech’s eight games this year have gone under the points total, with one push against Syracuse, making the under a potential betting angle to consider here.
Georgia Tech’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, Georgia Tech has a 49.2% chance of coming away from Blacksburg with a win on Saturday. Essentially a pick ’em with home-field advantage, our metric gives the Yellow Jackets a substantially better shot at victory than the latest lines from oddsmakers.
- at Virginia Tech: 49.2%
- at Miami (FL): 29.7%
- at NC State: 74.2%
- vs. Georgia (neutral site): 8.5%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, the Yellow Jackets would end the 2024 season with a 6-6 record and a bowl berth for the second consecutive season. Georgia Tech hasn’t played a postseason game in successive seasons since the 2013-2014 campaigns under Paul Johnson.
Virginia Tech’s Winning Probability
Conversely, the CFN FPM gives Virginia Tech a 50.8% chance of winning, with the Lane Stadium atmosphere playing a particularly large part in providing an intimidating home-field advantage, as seen in the win over the Boston College Eagles in Week 8.
- vs. Georgia Tech: 50.8%
- at Syracuse: 48.2%
- vs. Clemson: 26.6%
- at Duke: 50.4%
- vs. Virginia: 67.7%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, Virginia Tech would end the season with a 7-5 record, a one-win regular season improvement from 2023. That would earn them a bowl berth and a shot at a first eight-win season since 2019.
Prediction for Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech
A Georgia Tech season that began on a high note in Dublin has since fallen short of expectations, with the Yellow Jackets struggling to deliver in their biggest matchups. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech has faced its own challenges, falling short of some of the national media’s projections for the 2024 college football season.
The Yellow Jackets, however, can secure bowl eligibility with a win in Blacksburg. But will they manage it? Is Virginia Tech truly as formidable as the oddsmakers suggest? Who holds the advantage, and where will the key battles unfold?
The outcome of any Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech prediction hinges heavily on the health of quarterback Haynes King. The former Texas A&M Aggie is a crucial part of the Yellow Jackets’ offense, especially since defenses focusing on his dual-threat ability often create openings for running back Jamal Haynes. King currently leads the ACC in completion percentage, but it’s his influence on the ground game that could be decisive.
When Georgia Tech establishes a strong rushing attack, their chances of victory increase significantly. With Zach Pyron stepping in under center against Notre Dame, the Yellow Jackets struggled to find any offensive rhythm, resulting in their most lopsided loss of the season. Haynes has been a touchdown machine, outscoring the entire receiving corps.
Head coach Key provided an injury update on Monday, stating, “he’s day-to-day. Are we preparing the other guys to play? Yes. All right. Are we ruling him out? No.”
Star linebacker Kyle Efford is also considered day-to-day. His presence, especially in disrupting the opposition’s backfield, could be a game-changer for Georgia Tech as they look to contain Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten. The former FCS standout is coming off a stellar game against Boston College and is making a name for himself as one of the nation’s top running backs.
With Efford on the field, Georgia Tech has been strong against the run, allowing just four rushing touchdowns before their loss to Notre Dame. If they can stymie Tuten and contain dual-threat QB Kyron Drones, they might be able to keep this game close.
As the game approaches, injury updates will play a crucial role. Keep an eye on Virginia Tech’s defensive stars, Antwaun Powell-Ryland and Mansoor Delane, who could be key to a Hokies victory at home.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 24, Virginia Tech 27
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.