Syracuse vs Virginia Tech Preview: Hokies Slight Home Favorite Off Bye

The Virginia Tech Hokies will look to make it back-to-back victories coming out of the bye. Up next on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET) is a date with ACC for Syracuse at home.

Virginia Tech has gone from 1.5- to 3-point favorites (-105) since lines opened, including -150 on the moneyline. The Orange are +3 (-115) on the spread and +130 to win outright. The total, meanwhile, has dropped from 48.5 to 47 (-110 Over, -110 Under).

Who has the edge? We break down the odds in our Syracuse vs Virginia Tech preview.

Syracuse vs Virginia Tech Betting Trends

The Syracuse Orange are 3-3-1 against the spread this season. They’re also 5-1 ATS in their last six games against Virginia Tech. The total has gone Under in each of Syracuse’s last six games. The Virginia Tech Hokies, meanwhile, are 4-3 ATS this year. The total has gone Under in four of the last six games between these teams. That’s important to remember when assessing the odds in our Syracuse vs Virginia Tech preview.

Orange Trending Down

The Syracuse Orange have been outscored 112-24 over their current three-game skid, including a 41-3 loss to ACC favorite Florida State on Oct. 14. The Orange are 4-3 overall but remain the only team without a win in ACC play.

With five games remaining in the regular season, the Orange could still easily surpass expectations. They were projected for 6.5 wins, leaving them middle of the pack in the conference. The problem is, that the Orange is clearly trending down. After four straight double-digit victories to open the season, the Orange have been badly outplayed. They’ve allowed an average of 37.3 points to Clemson, North Carolina, and Florida State.

Quarterback Garrett Shrader struggled mightily against the Seminoles, completing only 9 of 21 passes for 99 yards. The Orange, 19-point underdogs, were outgained 535-261 and failed to cover the spread for the third straight game, not including a push against Army on Sept. 23. Keep that in mind when analyzing the college football betting line.

Sophomore LeQuint Allen (team-high 511 rushing yards, 8 TDs) has stepped up to replace star rusher Sean Tucker, but the Orange have still struggled to find consistency on offense. They’re averaging just 8.0 points over their last three games and haven’t topped 29 points on the NCAA football schedule since a 35-20 victory over Purdue on Sept. 16.

With two more victories, the Orange will make back-to-back bowls for the first time since 2012-13.

Hokies a Mixed Bag

Like Syracuse, Virginia Tech is coming off a bye. The Hokies most recently beat Wake Forest 30-13 on Oct. 14 to improve to 3-4, including 2-1 in ACC play.

A 1.5-point favorite, Virginia Tech used a big performance from quarterback Kyron Drones to cover the spread for the third straight game. Drones completed 20 of 29 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a team-high 59 yards.

On the heels of a 3-8 finish in Brent Pry’s first season at the helm, the Hokies still have a ways to go in the NCAAF standings. But their recent play has been encouraging.

Virginia Tech was projected for just 5.5 regular-season wins, matching Boston College for the third-fewest in the ACC. It remains a +5000 longshot to win the ACC, meaning the Hokies’ ceiling is probably a bowl game. Virginia Tech hasn’t made the postseason since 2021, when it lost the Pinstripe Bowl to finish 6-7.

Its offense remains very much a work in progress. The Hokies rank 87th nationally in scoring with 24.4 points per game. Keep that in mind when analyzing the odds in our Syracuse vs Virginia Tech preview.

Handicapping the Game

The upper tier of the ACC has been no match for Syracuse. Now comes a break in competition. Virginia Tech is much closer to its level, fighting for a bowl after an inconsistent start.

Although Virginia Tech’s played better of late, its early season struggles can’t be ignored. The Hokies are still a year or two away from returning to consistent bowl competition.

Virginia Tech is a 3-point home favorite, meaning oddsmakers see these teams as fairly equal. The Hokies may have a slight edge, but this is more or less a toss-up.

For NCAAF betting news, odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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