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Notre Dame vs Virginia Tech Odds, Spread and Best Bet

Blair Johnson

by Blair Johnson in College Football

Updated Oct 7, 2021 · 6:44 AM PDT

Brian Kelly
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly talks with his team during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. Cincinnati won 24-13. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
  • No. 14 Notre Dame (4-1) faces Virginia Tech (3-1) on the road at 7:30 pm ET Saturday on the ACC Network
  • The Fighting Irish will try to rebound from a 24-13 home loss to Cincinnati against the Hokies, seeking the program’s 21st straight regular season win over an ACC opponent
  • See game odds, analysis and a prediction by scrolling below

The Irish suffered their first loss of the season in Week 5, falling to the then-No. 7 Bearcats in a game that saw them dominated throughout. Head coach Brian Kelly’s team had issues on both sides of the ball – but mostly on offense – while continuing to juggle quarterbacks and struggled to get the ground game going.

As for Virginia Tech, head coach Justin Fuente’s squad kicked off the season with a statement-making 17-10 victory against North Carolina. But after another home win against Middle Tennessee, the Hokies stumbled on the road against West Virginia 27-21.

Now, after a 21-10 win over FCS program Richmond, the Hokies welcome the Irish as a slight home underdog.

 

Notre Dame vs Virginia Tech Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Notre Dame Fighting Irish -1 (-110) -115 O 47 (-110)
Virginia Tech Hokies +1 (-110) -105 U 47 (-110)

Odds as of October 5th on DraftKings

PyneCoan

Notre Dame’s sophomore quarterback Drew Pyne took over primary signal-calling duties during the second half of a 41-13 victory against Wisconsin in Week 4 after graduate transfer starter Jack Coan went out with an ankle injury. He showed some moxie and flashes of brilliance against Cincy.

The home crowd cheered loudly for Pyne’s presence on the field, but going 9-for-22 and 143 yards passing simply isn’t good enough long-term. Kelly is being coy with the media this week and won’t name a starter for Saturday’s game prior to kickoff.

Pyne’s accuracy isn’t head-and-shoulder better than Coan’s – who had gone 91-of-150 for 1,100 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions in 2021 prior to his injury. But Pyne’s mobility gives him an extra dimension, and that will be critical facing a stingy Virginia Tech outfit.

The Hokies are giving up just 15.3 points per game, in 2021 while cornerback Jermaine Waller has balled out so far this season. The junior has three interceptions, two pass breakups, and 22 tackles.

If Pyne is the starter, the Bearcats may have provided the biggest test he’ll take this season. Or maybe not.

Defensive Battle

As good as Cincinnati is, Virginia Tech’s defense is extremely solid in its own right. The aforementioned Williams, along with Dax Hollifield, provide the backbone for a unit that dominated a top-20 UNC squad in Week 1 some analysts had pegged as a College Football Playoff dark horse.

Hollifield, a junior linebacker who Notre Dame recruited coming out of high school, will be amped up to face the Irish. Through the first four games in 2021, he has three sacks, 4.5 tackles for losses and one pick.

As for the visitors, Notre Dame is currently tied for third nationally with nine interceptions to begin the 2021 season. That’s just the tip of the iceberg for the Irish defense. Kelly’s crew is also ranked 10th nationally in third-down defense, holding opponents to 21-for-75 (28%) on third-down this season. Plus, the group’s 15 sacks over the first five games of the season is the most for the program to start a season since 2003,

Saturday’s tilt is shaping up to be a tight, low-scoring affair, with Virginia Tech’s offense averaging just 23.5 points per game.

Home Field Advantage?

Tech has rushed for 689 yards in its four games and quarterback Braxton Burmeister is the team’s leading rusher with 224 yards so far this season. Junior running back Jalen Holston is the Hokies’ second-leading rusher, busting off 162 yards on the ground. Remember, Notre Dame has had issues with mobile quarterbacks like Burmeister for years.

YouTube video

The ground game will be critical in keeping this one close for a home team that figures to be up for the challenge.

The trends favor Notre Dame in this spot: the Irish edged the Hokies 21-20 in the most recent meeting between the schools two years ago in South Bend. In the only previous meeting at Lane Stadium in 2018, Notre Dame came away with a decisive 45-23 victory.

Then there’s Notre Dame’s current ACC run – which includes a 41-38 overtime win over Florida State on Labor Day Weekend – and 35 consecutive victories over unranked opponents dating back to the 2016 season.

That said, Saturday’s game feels different. In a virtual pick ’em, this one could go either way. But the under is the clear play in this spot.

  • The Pick: Under 47 (-110)
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