Thursday night college football comes to the Atlantic Coast Conference as the 4-3 Syracuse Orange travel to Blacksburg to take on the 3-4 Virginia Tech Hokies.
Who emerges victorious? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse prediction.
Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Virginia Tech -2.5 - Moneyline
Virginia Tech -142, Syracuse +120 - Over/Under
47 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA - Predicted Weather at Kick
57 degrees, 4-6 mph winds, mostly clear - How to Watch
ESPN, FuboTV
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Got a hunch that the Hokies are the team to beat on Thursday? Is Syracuse the team to stick your money on? If you’re going to take advantage of the Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
After struggling to start the season, Virginia Tech has been much improved in recent weeks and come into the game as the favorite against Syracuse with completely opposite fortunes. The Orange started hot but have faltered in ACC play. Despite holding an 11-8 head-to-head advantage and winning the last two matchups against the Hokies, Syracuse is 2-6 in Blacksburg.
When Enter Sandman comes on under the Lane Stadium lights, even the most consistent teams can stumble, and Syracuse is definitely not that. As detailed in our Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse prediction, the Hokies should have this game, and with a small spread, it’s worth taking them against the spread, too.
The Orange haven’t covered since beating Purdue in Week 3.
Finishing off the Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse odds, can you trust these two teams to hit the over. The Hokies are 4-3 hitting the over this season, including in two of their last three. However, Dino Babers’ team has failed to get over the points total since their Week 1 win over Colgate. If Virginia Tech is to win, it will be in a low-scoring affair.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Virginia Tech Depth Chart | Syracuse Depth Chart
- QB Grant Wells, Virginia Tech ($9,200)
- QB Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech ($9,200)
- QB Garrett Shrader, Syracuse ($9,000)
- RB LeQuint Allen, Syracuse ($9,000)
- RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech ($8,300)
- RB Malachi Thomas, Virginia Tech ($5,100)
- RB Juwan Price, Syracuse ($5,000)
- RB Bryce Duke, Virginia Tech ($4,300)
- WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech ($8,000)
- WR Umari Hatcher, Syracuse ($7,000)
- WR Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech ($6,300)
- WR Damien Alford, Syracuse ($6,200)
- WR Donovan Brown, Syracuse ($6,000)
- WR Stephen Gosnell, Virginia Tech ($5,600)
- TE Dan Villari, Syracuse ($5,300)
- TE Dae’Quan Wright, Virginia Tech ($5,100)
- TE Benji Gosnell, Virginia Tech ($4,900)
There are two college football games on Thursday to compile your DFS team from in Week 9. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “superflex” that can be any of the above. Or you can also select a tight end for the Superflex spot.
Starting off your Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse picks at the quarterback position, our advice would be, if you can afford Georgia State’s Darren Grainger, not to touch either of the QBs in this game. Garrett Shrader’s dual-threat ability when he’s on top form can be alluring, but he hasn’t been on that form for a minute. Drones is less turnover-prone, giving him an edge.
The other game on this slate also contains more attractive running back options. However, LeQuint Allen is the third-ranked fantasy RB in the ACC, and his matchup against the Virginia Tech run defense could see him put together a nice game. Bhayshul Tuten is approaching 100 fantasy points but has slowed in recent games. He does have a touchdown in four of the last five.
There are lots of high-scoring receiver options in the Georgia State and Georgia Southern clash, but don’t overlook one pass-catcher in this ACC matchup. Virginia Tech’s recent run of form is inextricably linked to the emergence of Jaylin Lane as the big-play threat, and he’s coming off a 102-yard and two-touchdown performance in the 30-13 win over Wake Forest.
Prediction for Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction. Can Dino Babers’ Syracuse team overcome their recent run of bad form and get their season back on track? Or will Virginia Tech continue to outstrip preseason expectations and record back-to-back wins for the first time this season?
Syracuse’s chances of success are two-fold.
Early in the season, quarterback Shrader looked infallible, a world-beater, and one of the best QBs in the ACC. However, he’s taken a lot of hits, and that appears to have impacted his ability to produce his explosive plays in their recent run of bad form. Since the Clemson game, he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass or rushed for a score, and hasn’t rushed for more than 30 yards.
The Syracuse QB spoke to the media this week and talked about feeling fitter than at any other time since his offseason surgery while also expressing optimism about playing more freely against a Virginia Tech defense that sits near the bottom of the ACC for yards per carry and rushing touchdowns allowed.
However, the Hokies defense should be capable of putting significant pressure on the Syracuse QB. Virginia Tech ties the ACC lead with 22.0 sacks, led by former Florida outside linebacker Antwuan Powell. Their ability to create pressure has led to the defense allowing just 6.3 yards per attempt to opposition QBs. Syracuse has allowed 2.71 sacks per game.
Meanwhile, the Orange defense has given up 30+ points in each of the last three games. Kryon Drones might not be Jordan Travis or Drake Maye, or even Cade Klubnik, but he’s able to move the sticks with his legs, and his connection with WR Lane has led to chunk plays in the passing game.
As long as the Hokies run defense can hold RB Allen, Drones can lead the team to a win.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 23, Syracuse 17