The Virginia Tech Hokies will look to continue their success in season openers when they face the Old Dominion Monarchs in a non-conference matchup on Friday in Norfolk, Va. The Hokies, who finished 6-7 a year ago, are 89-38-1 in season openers all-time. They haven’t had quite the success in their first road game of the year, however, going 56-64-6. The Monarchs, who were 6-7 in 2021, are 1-12 all-time against Power Five foes, including 1-2 at home. The one win, however, came against Virginia Tech, a 49-35 triumph in 2018.
Kickoff from Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET. Virginia Tech was 97th in the nation in total offense last season, averaging 361.9 yards per game, while Old Dominion was 84th nationally at 375.3. The Hokies are favored by six points in the latest Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 48. Before making any Old Dominion vs. Virginia Tech picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the proven SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,600 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It enters Week 1 of the 2022 college football season on a 45-32 run on all top-rated college football spread and money-line picks that dates back to 2021. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion:
- Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion spread: Virginia Tech -6
- Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion over/under: 48 points
- Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion money line: Virginia Tech -235, Old Dominion +192
- VT: The under is 4-0 in the Hokies’ last four games in September
- ODU: The Monarchs are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games against ACC foes
- Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion picks: See picks here.
Featured Game | Old Dominion Monarchs vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Why Virginia Tech can cover
The Hokies return a number of players who produced last season, including sophomore running back Malachi Thomas. He played in 12 games, making three starts. Thomas finished the season with 93 rushes for 440 yards and three touchdowns. He made his first career start at Georgia Tech on Oct. 30, rushing 25 times for 103 yards. It was his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game after carrying 21 times for 151 yards and three touchdowns a week earlier against Syracuse.
Redshirt senior Jalen Holston also returns and is listed at the top of the Hokies’ depth chart. He played in all 13 games in 2021 and rushed 52 times for 199 yards with one touchdown, while catching four passes for 32 yards and a score. For his career, he has played in 48 games, carrying 225 times for 914 yards (4.1 average) and eight touchdowns. Holston also has 12 receptions for 110 yards (9.2 average) and one TD.
Why Old Dominion can cover
The Monarchs had one of the country’s top special teams units last season, tying for the nation’s lead with six blocked kicks and four blocked punts. The six blocked kicks were delivered by six different players, and all six return to Old Dominion this season. Also returning is sophomore cornerback LaMareon James, who returned two kickoffs for 100-yard touchdowns last season, including the opening kick of the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Tulsa. That was the first opening kickoff for a touchdown in Old Dominion history.
For the second consecutive year, the Monarchs will also have multiple players in their sixth year on a college campus. ODU has five sixth-year players in 2022, including three that have been with the Monarchs all six years. One of those players is running back Matt Geiger. The former walk-on has carried 54 times in his career for 257 yards (4.7 average) and three touchdowns.
How to make Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the point total. In fact, it says Virginia Tech running back Malachi Thomas will rush for nearly 90 yards and a score, while Blake Watson rushes for a touchdown and more than 105 yards for the Monarchs. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion? And which side of the spread cashes in over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished the past six-plus years up nearly $3,600 on its FBS college football picks, and find out.