The Hokies haven't beaten a ranked opponent in 11 years and are 16-21 in three seasons under coach Brent Pry. Behind returning QB Kyron Drones and an experienced defensive core, they should be aligned for a winning season but face a daunting challenge in Week 1. The Gamecocks fell just short of the CFP last year but looked like a top-8 caliber team when they were on top of their game, and finished with a top-15 ranking. QB LaNorris Sellers is a Heisman candidate and has a chance to earn some early momentum following the struggles of Clemson's Cade Klubnik and Arch Manning of Texas. The Gamecocks should be motivated to make a statement on a national stage, and we like the reduced number.

South Carolina opened as a 9.5-point favorite, but early money has lowered this spread to 7.5 points, despite 83% of bettors backing the Gamecocks to cover. In 2024, Virginia Tech lost five games by ten points or fewer, including three losses by four or less. When quarterback Kyron Drones started, the Hokies went 5–4, with all losses resulting in one-possession games. Virginia Tech is well-coached and features a veteran quarterback and several talented playmakers. This matchup takes place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, removing true home-field advantage for South Carolina. The Gamecocks lost a lot of high-end talent on defense. I think this line should be closer to 6 points.

We have what appears to be a neutral site mismatch with unranked Virginia Tech getting no votes in the AP Poll and South Carolina ranking 13th. The Hokies come back with five starters from last year, and their largest losses were to Clemson by 10, and by 14 to Minnesota in the Mayo Bowl during a 6-7 season. South Carolina returns sophomore QB LaNorris Sellers from a 9-4 season last year. While the spread is something I could be happy with on either side, the total looks low to me, and the way to go is betting the over 49. Tech’s offensive coordinator, Philip Montgomery, calls a fast game.