Virginia Tech Football: Hokies’ odds rising with ESPN for the final 5 games

What a difference a week makes for the Virginia Tech football team.

Before last weekend’s home game against Wake Forest, the Hokies were turning the corner in terms of improving, and ESPN predictor had them favored to win half of their games. Albeit they were barely favorites in a lot of them, but after a dominating 30-13 win over the Demon Deacons, the predictor has improved the Hokies odds in their final five games.

Virginia Tech odds take huge leap following Wake Forest victory

After Virginia Tech’s victory at Lane Stadium over the Demon Deacons, the Hokies odds in ESPN’s predictor took some big leaps as they enjoy their bye week. Before Wake Forest, here were the odds, and below is the jump in the odds after one win.

• Oct. 26: vs. Syracuse, 37.8% to win (up 9%)
• Nov. 4: at Louisville, 21.8% to win (up 7%)
• Nov. 11: at Boston College, 58.7% to win (up 5%)
• Nov. 18: vs. North Carolina State, 52.4% to win (up 8%)
• Nov. 25: at Virginia, 65.9% to win (up 5%)

That’s a 34% total increase in just one week for Virginia Tech. ESPN even had the Hokies as part of their Bowl predictions last Sunday. In the overall big picture, the schedule is not a daunting one for Tech. It isn’t.

This season, they caught a break with the schedule and did not get North Carolina, Miami, or Clemson. Florida State is done with, but Louisville remains the toughest game on the road, despite losing to Pittsburgh last week, and Syracuse and North Carolina State are not going to be easy at home. Regardless, three weeks after going 1-3 in non-conference, the outlook for a potential Bowl game looked grim, now it looks a little brighter, as long as they continue to open up the playbook offensively and the defense continues to get better.