Minnesota vs Virginia Tech Prediction, Odds & Props

• The condiments will be flying when Minnesota (7-5) meets Virginia Tech (6-6) in Duke’s Mayo Bowl Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Charlotte on ESPN.
• The Mayo Bowl has become a fan favorite, with the winning coach getting a ceremonial dump of 4.5 gallons of mayonnaise on his head.
• Pore through our special Mayo Bowl preview, including a look at the best odds, players to watch and pick for who gets glopped with mayo at the end Friday.

Bowl season has given us Pop Tarts, Cheez-it and plenty of overtime; now its Mayo time as Minnesota (7-5, 9-2-1 ATS) faces Virginia Tech (6-6, 6-6 ATS) in Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

It is the first meeting between the two schools. Minnesota is more than a touchdown favorite, and the number continues to climb.

We’re all over Duke’s Mayor Bowl like cheese on a sandwich; with your special preview, look at the best odds and prediction for how this one will go.

Minnesota vs Virginia Tech Odds

Odds as of Jan. 2 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Be sure to check our top DraftKings Sportsbook promos before making a bet on any college football playoff action. 

The Golden Gophers are one of the best bets this season in college football against the spread. Minnesota has won seven of its last eight games against the number.

Minnesota opened as 3.5-point favorites at FanDuel and other sportsbooks, and that number has ballooned to as big as 9.5. This is probably due to the number of Virginia Tech opt outs.

The Hokies are 6-6 against the spread, but 8-4 against the total, while Minnesota is 6-6 over/under. The total has also moved some. It’s 43.5 at some books, and 42.5 at others.

DraftKings has the best moneyline value on Minnesota at -340, and FanDuel is the place to go moneyline on Va Tech at +285.

Snap, crackle, POP Watson💥#ThisIsHome | @WW3thefuture pic.twitter.com/WueM6vYaPZ

— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) December 2, 2024

Gobble, Gobble Gone

We’re at that point in bowl season where it’s getting late, and teams really don’t look at all like they did in the regular season.

Virginia Tech has had as many as 24 players enter the transfer portal, including six starters on defense, and two starters on the OL. Superstar defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland is going pro. Stud running back Bhayshul Tuten is gone. Quarterback Kyron Drones was banged up most of the season, and there’s no reason for him to play in this one.

So who does Va Tech have? Freshman QB William “Pop” Watson played the last two games of the regular season and looked good in the season-ending win over Virginia. The Hokies always play good special teams and were +7 in turnover margin this season,

LEAGUE HIM 👀 Every @JustinWalley_ INT as a Golden Gopher 🎥 https://t.co/GTOWILDYiK pic.twitter.com/fEjhh1WCb8

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) December 19, 2024

Minnesota Time

You can stump your best friends with this one: what school has the longest active bowl-winning streak in the nation?

It’s Minnesota, sitting at seven in a row.

The Golden Gophers ended the season winning five of their last seven games, and one of those losses was to Penn State by a point. They don’t do any one thing super well. Defensively, they were seventh in the Big 10 against the run and fifth against the pass. Offensively, they were almost last in running the ball.

But all together, they find a way to win. QB Max Brosmer threw for 17 touchdowns, and standout running back Darius Taylor is expected to play.

Minnesota coach PJ Fleck has been coy about all the opt outs, but All-American tackle Aireontae Ersery and lead wide receiver Daniel Jackson are a no-go.

Minnesota vs Virginia Tech Prediction

• Virginia Tech -9.5 at FanDuel
• Under 42.5 at FanDuel

We think Minnesota will win. You just get the feeling that the Golden Gophers are more invested in the outcome of this game, while Virginia Tech just wants to turn the page to 2025. The Hokies already fired their defensive coordinator after the regular season.

But, we think the number is a bit too high. Minnesota doesn’t exactly wow you with offensive firepower. They have the least amount of plays over 30 yards of any FBS team. Virginia Tech has nothing to lose. We think it’ll be a sloppy, messy game with Fleck getting mayo’d.