College Football Week 1 Odds, Picks & Prediction: Old Dominion vs. Virginia Tech (9/2)

Sep 2, 2022 - 10:38 AM

Let’s take a look at the College Football Week 1 odds, picks, and predictions for this week’s game: Old Dominion vs. Virginia Tech.

And check out our other game previews and picks for Week 1 of College Football:

• TCU vs. Colorado
• Indiana vs. Illinois
• Western Michigan vs. Michigan State
• New Mexico State vs. Minnesota
• Georgia State vs. South Carolina
• Nevada vs. Texas State
• Western Kentucky vs. Hawaii
• North Carolina State vs. East Carolina
• Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
• Boise State vs. Oregon State
• Arizona vs. San Diego State
• Utah State vs. Alabama
• Middle Tennessee vs. James Madison
• Cincinnati vs. Arkansas
• Florida State vs. LSU
• Utah vs. Florida
• Colorado State vs. Michigan
• Rice vs. USC
• Oregon vs. Georgia
• Louisiana-Monroe vs. Texas
• Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

College Football Week 1 Odds, Picks & Prediction: Old Dominion vs. Virginia Tech

A confluence of factors has us on the under.

Defensive-minded former Penn State DC Brent Pry will not have a full complement of offensive personnel in his debut. Virginia Tech projected starting RB Malachi Thomas has been out with a leg injury for a few weeks and is expected to miss this game. The Hokies will roll with a platoon of Jalen Holston and Keshawn King.

Virginia Tech’s new quarterback, Marshall transfer Grant Wells, will acclimate to a new supporting cast behind an offensive line that has four true freshmen on the two-deep. Virginia Tech has very little talent in the receiving corps.

Old Dominion’s defense finished No. 11 in the nation in points per scoring opportunity allowed in the red zone. Virginia Tech does not project as a strong red zone offense, anyway.

The forecast is calling for 15 mph winds in Norfolk on Friday evening. That’s the point, statistically, where wind begins to wreak havoc on offensive football, particularly on the pass. I expect a low-scoring chess match.

Bet: UNDER 48.5

What is Betting Against the Spread?

Betting “against the spread” refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.

What is an Over/Under Bet?

Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.

What is a Moneyline Bet?

A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.

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