The Virginia Tech Hokies take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
South Carolina is favored by -7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -300. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, comes in at +240 to pull off the upset. The total is set at 52.5 points.
Here are my Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina prediction and college football picks for Saturday, August 31.
Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Prediction
- Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina Pick: Virginia Tech +7.5
My South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech best bet is on the Hokies to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Odds
| Virginia Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 51.5 -110o / -110u | +240 |
| South Carolina Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 51.5 -110o / -110u | -300 |
- Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Spread: South Carolina -7.5, Virginia Tech +7.5
- Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Over/Under: 52.5
- Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Moneyline: Virginia Tech +240, South Carolina -300
Virginia Tech vs South Carolina College Football Betting Preview
Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Preview: Looking to Bounce Back
Virginia Tech was a trendy dark horse pick in the ACC last year, but its season was upended by Vanderbilt in Week 1. After nearly upsetting Miami in its ACC opener, Tech won its next three conference games but limped to a 6-7 finish.
Now, it begins 2025 with another SEC opponent in Atlanta.
The Hokies returns their dynamic dual-threat quarterback, Kyron Drones, who was banged up last season but still accounted for over 1,800 total yards, 16 touchdowns and interceptions while completing 60.7% of his passes.
Drones may be motivated heading into this matchup given the attention surrounding the signal-caller on the other side.
However, he'll be without his running mate in the backfield, as running back Bhayshul Tuten headed off to the NFL in the spring.
Head coach Brent Pry went heavy in the portal to replace him with Terion Stewart (Bowling Green), Braydon Bennett (Coastal Carolina) and Marcellous Hawkins (Central Missouri). The trio combined for 2,762 yards and 35 touchdowns at their respective schools.
At receiver, they added Donavon Greene and Cameron Seldon to go with returning tight end Benji Gosnell.
Up front, new offensive line coach Matt Moore brings four West Virginia transfers along with him, as Tomas Rimac leads the way at guard. However, entering the opener, there are some question marks about depth.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Hokies will be replacing sack master Antwaun Powell-Ryland. Texas State transfer Ben Bell will be one of the players tasked with replacing him.
New defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes will also have a revamped secondary to work with, led by New Mexico transfer Christian Ellis and Sam Houston transfer Isaiah Cash.
South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Preview: Sellers Season Underway
With the exception of a certain quarterback in Austin, few players enter 2025 with as much hype as LaNorris Sellers.
The redshirt sophomore has been projected as a potential top-10 NFL Draft selection next spring and is among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy as well.
While he'll need some growth as a passer to reach those goals, there have already been tantalizing flashes of his big-play potential. He completed 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns against seven interceptions while adding 674 yards and seven scores on the ground.
Oscar Adaway III is the returning lead back, but he has competition with a few newcomers, including Utah State transfer Rahsul Faison.
Four of South Carolina's top 10 recruits were four-star receivers, led by Malik Clark and Donovan Murph.
They'll have opportunities to earn playing time in the rotation, though likely behind Mazeo Bennett and Nyck Harbor. Bennett is Mr. Reliable in the slot, while Harbor is the freak athlete who's still learning the position.
Sellers should have an improved cast of skill players around him. He'll also benefit from an experienced offensive line that has 78 combined starts.
However, the other side of the line of scrimmage will need to be rebuilt.
The good news is sophomore edge Dylan Stewart returns and should be elite this season. He had 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles while earning freshman All-American honors last season.
However, they lost four of their top five defensive lineman, including Kyle Kennard and TJ Sanders. They also lost their top three linebackers, meaning defensive coordinator Clayton White will have his hands full replenishing his front seven.
The Gamecocks added six transfers on the defensive line and three more at linebackers, though no household names at the college level.
White will need breakout years from a few of them, and a pair of candidates are defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and linebacker Shawn Murphy, who are former top-100 recruits.
South Carolina also added four transfers in the secondary. The group will be led by Jalon Kilgore, who had five interceptions last season. He gives White the versatility to deploy him at nickel or safety.
Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Pick, Betting Analysis
Last year, South Carolina's 9-3 record was matched by going 9-3 against the spread. However, one of the ATS losses came when it was favored by 10.5 points against Missouri, the only time it was favored by more than a touchdown last season.
Now, it's opening the season at a neutral site, replacing a ton on defense and facing an offense with an experienced quarterback returning.
Drones and Sellers-led offenses could create a lot of points, so I don't mind the over either. However, with the spread over a touchdown, I have to back the Hokies.
Pick: Virginia Tech +7.5
