After a week off to regroup, the Virginia Tech football team begins the unofficial second half of the 2025 season on Friday night at home against California. If there was a team that needed a bye this weekend, it was the Hokies.
Interim coach Philip Montgomery has dealt with injuries and key players entering the Transfer Portal following Brent Pry's firing last month. Sitting at 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the ACC, Virginia Tech looks to finish the season strong before some huge changes are made.
Virginia Tech opens as a favorite against California
Coming off the bye, Virginia Tech doesn't have an easy task in front of them with California making the cross-country trip. At 5-2 and 2-1 in the ACC, the Golden Bears are one of the conference's surprise teams this season. When the season started, head coach Justin Wilcox was someone who was considered on the hot seat, but his team quickly cooled their coach's seat off, winning five of their first seven games.
According to DraftKings, Virginia Tech opens as a 3-point favorite over the Golden Bears. Cal is coming off an exciting 21-18 win over Bill Belichick and North Carolina on Friday night at home.
As far as Virginia Tech goes, it remains to be seen as to who will be available for the Hokies in this game after a week off to rest some of the injuries they are dealing with to key players. Their depth has been tested all season long and will continue to be tested the rest of the season against a daunting schedule to close out the season.
There are not many games remaining on the Hokies' schedule this year where you look and say that they can win 'that game', but their best chance might be this week against Cal.