The wait is finally over. Virginia Tech football is back with their first of 12 game days.
The Hokies and 13th-ranked South Carolina are set to battle inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Aflac Kickoff Sunday afternoon. This is a big season for head coach Brent Pry and his team, and it's the first of two straight games against SEC foes, with Vanderbilt visiting Blacksburg next weekend.
Since the line opened on the game, no matter which sportsbook you look at, South Carolina has been a favorite, and that remains the case, a strong favorite. With that said, here is a final look at the line for the game and predictions from Fighting Gobbler writers ahead of the long-awaited season opener.
Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina: Final odds
Odds provided by DraftKings
Moneyline
- South Carolina: -290
- Virginia Tech: +235
Spread
- South Carolina: -7 (-115)
- Virginia Tech: +7 (-105)
Total
- 51.5 (Over -108/Under -112)
Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina: Prediction
Scott Roche - South Carolina 31, Virginia Tech 20: Going into the season, South Carolina has the feel of Virginia Tech at this time last year, a team with a ton of hype and a dark horse to potentially crash the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Hokies have a ton of questions entering the season, and keeping this game close as long as they can puts all the pressure on the Gamecocks. If Virginia Tech pulls off the upset, it would set the tone for what is a very pivotal season in Blacksburg on a number of levels.
Adam Firebaugh - South Carolina 28, Virginia Tech 21: Season openers are almost always defensive slugfests, and this one likely will be no different. Both teams return star quarterbacks, but their gunslingers are surrounded by new faces, both up front and out wide. Each defense likewise has seen significant offseason turnover. However, Shane Beamer’s squad has the advantage in star power on both sides of the ball. After a sluggish start, thanks in part to the Hokies’ bend but don’t break defense, the Gamecocks separate themselves in the second half. Kyron Drones leads the Hokies toward a comeback but can’t close the deal. For the Gamecocks, LaNorris Sellers runs for a score and lands a touchdown pass to Nyck Harbor. Rashul Faison has a modest day but gets in the end zone, regardless. For the Hokies, Drones mirrors Sellers’ performance and tosses another TD to Benji Gosnell in the red zone, an area of the field in which offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery has emphasized being better.