Athlon Sports predicts Virginia Tech 2024 bowl destination

Going into the 2024 college football season, the playoff expands to 12 teams and it gives more teams the dream of making the CFP. Hopes are high in Blacksburg that Virginia Tech could make a run for an at-large bid to the 12-team field, however, it might take 11 wins for that to happen. The Hokies schedule this fall is doable in terms of trying to reach 11 wins, but some obstacles will be tough.

If Virginia Tech doesn't get into the College Football Playoff, then a bowl game that the ACC is tied into is very likely Athlon Sports released their bowl projections for the upcoming season and they have the Hokies heading West for a second time in the season.

Athlon Sports predicts Virginia Tech to play in the Holiday Bowl

This season the ACC welcomes California, SMU, and Stanford to the conference and the Hokies will travel to Stanford to play the Cardinal on Oct. 5. Athlon Sports has Virginia Tech flying back to the West Coast for their bowl game around the New Year in the annual Holiday Bowl in San Diego against new Big 10 member Washington.

In his predictions, Steve Lassan has just one ACC team, Florida State, making the 12-team CFP field this season. His predictions are Liberty, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas, Penn State, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Michigan playing in the First Round with FSU, Utah, Georgia, and Ohio State awaiting the winners in the Semifinals.

The Holiday Bowl, which is played at Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, saw USC beat Louisville last season after the Cardinals beat Virginia Tech at home in November to clinch a spot in the ACC Championship Game against Florida State, only to lose to the shorthanded Seminoles. The Hokies will enter the season as a dark horse contender for the expanded CFP, but if they fall short, the Holiday Bowl is a nice fallback for Brent Pry and his team.