Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Sept. 18, 2021

Stuart Durst
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Predictions

Score Prediction - West Virginia 26 Virginia Tech 20

The Hokies have picked up a pair of victories and covers in two games to date at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, including an upset victory over previously top-10 ranked North Carolina, 17-10. That win came as a 4.5-point underdog, while they pushed past Middle Tennessee last week as a 20-point favorite, winning 35-14. Both of the games ended up hitting the UNDER, as the defense has had it on lockdown. The Gobblers have allowed 351.5 total yards per game, while yielding just 106.0 rushing yards and 12.0 points per outing. The points allowed ranks 12th in the nation during the early going.

QB Braxton Burmeister has done a decent enough job under center so far, completing 60.5 percent of his pass attempts for 311 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while also leading the team with 94 rushing yards and a score. Virginia Tech does have five rushing scores in the first two outings. While he has managed a 5-1 record as a starter for Virginia Tech, he has managed to post more than 200 passing yards just once, the regular-season finale against Virginia last year.

The Mountaineers were able to bounce back last weekend at Milan Puskar Stadium, spanking Long Island University of the FCS by a 66-0 count. They ended up covering a 50-point number, taking care of the OVER on their own. QB Jarret Doege has some rather gaudy numbers, posting 536 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in two outings to date. Doege and the Mountaineers saw a majority of its production against LIU, as they were outgained 496 to 325 in total yardage, while UMD had 22 first downs to 18. That came in West Virginia's first road game, so it's a good thing they're hosting the ranked Hokies at home.

Doege will be under siege from a Virginia Tech pass rush which has been very active. They have posted nine sacks through two games, including six in their showdown against North Carolina. If the Mountaineers can give Doege some time, and avoid the same fate as QB Sam Howell and the Tar Heels, West Virginia should be able to get it done at home. A raucous crowd will make things very unwelcoming for the visitors, too.

(AP)

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Best Bets

West Virginia -150
West Virginia -3
Under 50.5

More College Football Betting Picks & Predictions

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Game Odds

Virginia Tech +125
West Virginia -150
Virginia Tech (+3) -110
West Virginia (-3) -110
Over 50.5 (-110)
Under 50.5 (-110)

Odds Provided by BetMGM - Subject to Change

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Resources

Venue: Milan Puskar Stadium
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
TV-Time: FS1 - 12:00 p.m. ET

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Analysis

The best thing that the Mountaineers have going for them is that this game is being played in Morgantown. West Virginia leads the all-time series 28-23-1, but we have actually had just one meeting since 2005. The Hokies won 31-24 in Landover, Md. in a neutral-site game, and Virginia Tech has won three straight in the series. The last meeting in Morgantown was a 34-17 win that went the way of the Hokies on Oct. 1, 2005.

While the Hokies have dominated the series lately, and they enter this one in the Top 15, I just don't care for their offense. Burmeister has been just OK, and he'll need to be great to win on the road. The Mountaineers have won six straight at home, and they have rolled up an impressive 18-game win streak against non-conference opponents at Milan Puskar. That streak has lasted a decade since LSU came to town Sept. 24, 2011. Of course, that was also the last ranked non-conference team to come to town, too, so is the win streak that impressive?

To make matters worse for the Hokies, Burmeister will have to do without go-to TE James Mitchell, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last time out. That makes things an even bigger uphill battle for a team just 7-8 SU across the past 15 games away from home. Virginia Tech will need to lean upon its defense that much more to shut down Doege, as well as RB Leddie Brown. The latter has just 104 rushing yards, but he has already found the end zone four times.

I think the loss of Mitchell is going to toss this offense into a bit of disarray, and they are going to need to find a receiver to step up in a hurry. Defense wins championships, but in college football, you also need a well-oiled machine on offense, and you need to score plenty of points. Virginia Tech just doesn't seem capable of lighting up the scoreboard. That will be their undoing in this one.