When the Virginia Tech football team travels to Charlottesville on Saturday night to play Virginia, they will do so as a big underdog, something they are not used to in the series with their rivals. To say that the Hokies have dominated it would be a major understatement.
Virginia Tech has won 19 of the last 20 matchups, including the last two when they needed to become bowl eligible. In 2023, they went to Scott Stadium and came away with a 55-17 win. Last season in Blacksburg, the Hokies came away with a 37-17 win over the Cavaliers. This season, however, all signs are pointing to Virginia winning the Commonwealth Cup.
Virginia is a 10.5 favorite over their rivals according to DraftKings, and it has much more to play for than just bowl eligibility, as it already is. A win and the Cavaliers are bound for the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. A loss, and they are bound for a bowl game. There is a lot on the line for Tony Elliott and his team on Saturday night.
Virginia a double-digit favorite over Virginia Tech
This may not be a popular take with Virginia Tech fans, but let's call it as it is: the Hokies have everything to gain and nothing really to lose. A win and they can make Virginia's life completely miserable by knocking them out of the ACC Championship Game. A loss, and the Cavaliers get their one shining moment for likely the last time for a long time.
You can make the case that Elliott has done a tremendous job in turning Virginia around after the 5-7 season they had in 2024. He saved his job with the season he's having, but moving forward, James Franklin being hired at Virginia Tech is the worst-case scenario for Elliott and Virginia. Remember, as bad as the Brent Pry era was in Blacksburg, and it was bad, he beat the pants off the Cavaliers in their meetings. What do you think Franklin is going to do?
Both schools are in a unique spot for the Commonwealth Cup, and being a double-digit favorite spot is a spot that Virginia may never find itself in for years and decades to come.