For the first time since 1974, the Miami Hurricanes and Virginia Tech Hokies will meet on a Friday night. And if Miami wants to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2017, they’ll have to get past a very resilient Hokies team, ripe for a potential upset.
Who has the advantage in our Virginia Tech vs. Miami prediction?
Virginia Tech vs. Miami Betting Preview
All Virginia Tech vs. Miami odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
- Spread
Miami -17.5 - Moneyline
Virginia Tech +575, Miami -850 - Over/Under
54 - Game Time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, FL - Predicted Weather at Kick
80 degrees, cloudy and humid following afternoon showers/a thunderstorm - How to Watch
ESPN/ESPN+
After a swing to just south of 20 points for Miami, the market settled down on Friday morning, bringing this line back to nearly where it opened at Miami -17.5.
Miami has been favored in every game it’s played this season — the last three by at least 16.5 points. The Hurricanes are 3-1 against the spread; their only blemish is a missed cover as 48-point favorites against Florida A&M (won 56-9).
The Hurricanes will enter Friday’s contest after scoring at least 50 points in three straight games for the first time in program history. In fact, it is only the fourth time in Hurricanes history they have scored at least 50 points three times in a single season with the other instances coming consecutively in 1999-2001.
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The Hurricanes are seeking to reverse a pair of troubling trends under Mario Cristobal. They are 4-12 against the spread in conference games and 3-8 against the spread as home favorites since he was hired in 2022.
Virginia Tech, too, has been favored in every game on its schedule this season but is just 1-3 against the spread. On the positive side, the Hokies have a mark of 9-6 ATS in conference games and 3-1 ATS against ranked opponents under Brent Pry.
In the eight games these teams have combined to play in 2024, only once has the game gone under the total.
Prediction for Virginia Tech vs. Miami
Miami has largely stayed out of the national spotlight despite stringing together four consecutive wins by an average margin of 42 points per game.
The Hurricanes are firing on all cylinders offensively, with standout talent and playmakers at every position. They boast one of the top quarterbacks in the country, who currently leads the FBS with 14 passing touchdowns.
Their ground game is just as formidable, ranking in the top 20 nationally in yards per carry (6.1) and rushing touchdowns (12). Additionally, Miami is one of only five FBS teams— and the only one from the ACC— with at least eight different players catching a touchdown pass this season.
Virginia Tech poses their toughest challenge yet, but the Hurricanes appear determined to make a statement on the national stage and can seize the opportunity with a prime-time victory in front of a national audience.
Credit is due to the Hokies, who were only a few plays away from being 4-0 themselves. They were neck and neck in the closing minutes of both losses against Vanderbilt and Rutgers.
However, with all due respect, Miami is in a different league compared to those teams and should demonstrate that on Friday night.
Though the Heisman hopeful will be facing the ACC’s second-best pass defense, this is his chance to show he belongs in that conversation and capitalize on an unproven Hokies secondary.
Prediction: Miami 42, Virginia Tech 17
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