Bowl season gives us the Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. the Virginia Tech Hokies—a first-ever showdown. Who’s coming out on top?
Our Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech prediction covers it all—from the latest betting odds to what’s on the line for both teams as they clash 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, Jan. 3, 2025. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Minnesota -9.5 - Spread
Minnesota -10 - Moneyline
Minnesota -425, Virginia Tech +330 - Over/Under
43.5 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 boasts a flawless 5-0 record in bowl games, and there’s little reason to believe that streak ends in 2024. Still, Minnesota has gone unranked in both the AP Poll and College Football Playoff rankings for two consecutive seasons, a first since Fleck’s early years in Minneapolis (2017-18).
- at Virginia Tech: 71.9%
Virginia Tech’s Winning Probability
Brent Pry’s tenure at Virginia Tech has shown incremental improvement, taking the Hokies from a 3-8 start to back-to-back 6-6 seasons with bowl appearances. However, his teams have yet to crack the AP Poll or CFP rankings, leaving Hokies fans yearning for a bigger breakthrough.
- vs. Minnesota: 28.1%
Prediction for Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech enters bowl season with more questions than answers, especially at quarterback. Injuries to Kyron Drones and Collin Schlee have left the Hokies potentially turning to freshman William Watson III to lead the offense.
The Hokies’ roster challenges don’t end there. Key players like center Braelin Moore, left tackle Xavier Chaplin, and cornerback Mansoor Delane have entered the transfer portal, while NFL Draft departures, including star RB Bhayshul Tuten, leave significant gaps to fill.
With a depleted lineup and late-season struggles, Virginia Tech faces a steep uphill battle against a Minnesota team built on stability and consistency.
MORE: 2024 College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
Minnesota, led by senior QB Max Brosmer, has quietly found its stride down the stretch. Brosmer’s precision—completing 66.8% of his passes for 2,617 yards and an 11:1 TD-to-INT ratio over his last seven games—has kept the Gophers’ offense balanced and efficient. Meanwhile, RB Darius Taylor continues to be a force in the run game, compiling 873 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.
With a stout defense and an intact roster, Minnesota looks poised to row its way to another bowl victory. Expect the Gophers’ consistency and discipline to shine against a Hokies squad grappling with chaos. Take Minnesota to win decisively.
Prediction: Minnesota 28, Virginia Tech 10
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