The No. 13 Virginia Tech Hokies have played the role of comeback kids already a couple times this season. That’s a scenario head coach Justin Fuente will hope his kids can avoid on Saturday afternoon when his Hokies close out their non-conference slate against Conference USA’s Old Dominion Monarchs. This will be the first ever meeting between the schools, and if last week was any indicator for the visitors, it likely won’t go smoothly.
This matchup in Week 4 of the regular season will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2017, at 2 p.m. ET at Lane Stadium. This game will be broadcast live on the ACC Network.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Old Dominion +26
Virginia Tech -26
O/U 55
Odds Analysis
The Hokies have received 78 percent of the betting public’s action since the line for this matchup first opened with Josh Jackson and his mates installed decisive 26-point favorites. Because of the one-sided action, the line has since bumped up to -27.5 and it wouldn’t be surprising in the least if that impost traveled past 28 and closer to 30 after the Monarchs got ripped by North Carolina, another member of the ACC, last week.
The correlated move with the total finds it up to 57 after opening at 55 with 75 percent of the betting handle expecting a high scorer. That’s a natural assumption after VTECH dropped 64 on ECU last week, while the Monarchs served up 53 points to the Tar Heels.
Player to Watch
Steven Williams – The youngster will face a monumental task on Saturday when he steps in under center to start his very first game at the collegiate level. On top of that, he’ll be doing it in front of 66,000-plus rabid Hokies fans who will want nothing more than to see him fail, and do so miserably. Monarchs’ coach Bobby Wilder wouldn’t have snagged the red shirt off his frosh had he not seen something.
After getting in the game against the Heels, he orchestrated a couple scoring drives that led to 16 ODU points. There would have been more had he not fumbled at UNC’s one-yard line. Regardless, the team played much better once he entered the game. The hope is that he can carry that poise and execution with him on the road into hostile territory.
Look-Ahead Situation
The Hokies exerted a ton of energy to come back against the Pirates last week. Down 17-7 after one quarter, Virginia Tech went on to score the game’s next 57 points to cruise to the shocking road cover as 27 point favorites. It will be interesting to see how the team comes out for this one after putting forth such a tremendous effort the final three quarters. On top of that, there just so happens to be a nationally televised showdown looming with No. 2 Clemson next Saturday night. It’s going to be nearly impossible for Fuente’s kids to care much about a Monarchs team it will be facing for the very first time. Especially with it looking forward to potentially snapping a four game losing streak to the Tigers.
Free ATS Pick
If this isn’t your average David vs. Goliath story I don’t know what is. ODU wasn’t even in the FBS five years ago, but now it’s going to Lane Stadium to compete with the Hokies and will continue battling Virginia Tech for many years to come after the schools agreed to partake in home-and-home series until 2031. Regardless of what happens in this matchup, the Monarchs program as a whole will be better off for it. That said, I just can’t see Old Dominion hanging in this tilt. Especially with so many pertinent pieces to the puzzle out due to injury. Add a 17-year old quarterback making his first collegiate start in one of the rowdiest stadiums in the country, and the end result doesn’t look good. I don’t expect ODU to get embarrassed like it did last week, but the better effort still won’t be enough to cover the number.
College Football Odds: Hokies 41, Monarchs 10
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