Minnesota vs Virginia Tech Mayo Bowl Betting Pick & Preview – 1/3/2025

On January 3, 2025, the Minnesota Golden Gophers will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Duke's Mayo Bowl at 7:30 pm EST. DraftKings Sportsbook has set the betting odds with the Virginia Tech Hokies as 6.5 point underdogs. The total for the game has been established at 42.5. This matchup is anticipated to be a closely contested battle between the two teams, as both will be looking to secure a victory. Stay tuned for an exciting game filled with intense competition and thrilling moments.

Prior to kickoff in the Minnesota vs Virginia Tech matchup in the Mayo Bowl, continue reading to get our full preview of this matchup between foes from the Big Ten and Virginia Tech. Along with our keys to this matchup from Charlotte, NC, we will also give you our best bet for this game. Our predictions are backed by volumes of data, as our college football betting models look to continue their success from early in the college football postseason.

Can Minnesota Shut Down Virginia Tech?

Going into the college football bowl schedule, the Minnesota Golden Gophers hold a record of 7-5. They won their final regular season game against the Wisconsin Badgers, winning at Camp Randall Stadium, which is no easy feat. Here, the Golden Gophers will look to finish their season with a second win in a row, as they hope that their defense can continue to lock up their opponents on this season-ending stage.

Minnesota will look to take advantage of the fact that Virginia Tech is banged up at the quarterback position. Starting quarterback Kyron Drones is out for this game due to injury. That should provide the Golden Gophers with a huge boost on defense, which they may not have needed anyway, given that Minnesota ranks 11th in the nation in points per game allowed.

Virginia Tech Looks to Finish Season Over .500

The Virginia Tech Hokies went 6-6 in the regular season, achieving bowl eligibility by the skin of their teeth. The Hokies secured their sixth win in the final game of the regular season with a win over the rival Virginia Cavaliers. But things could be tough for the Hokies in this game as they are likely to be without their talented starting quarterback, which could send their offense into a downward spiral in a game where the winning coach is doused with a bucket of mayonnaise.

Virginia Tech's strength on offense has been its running game even when Drones was healthy. The Hokies ranked 35th in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging 187.1 yards per game on the ground. With Drones likely out here, the Hokies will need to lean even more heavily on their ground game, which could be tough if Minnesota knows that the run is going to be coming more than ever.

Minnesota vs Virginia Tech Best Bet

Look for the under to cash in this Minnesota vs Virginia Tech matchup in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. We don't expect the Virginia Tech offense to accomplish much in this contest thanks to the anticipated absence of Drones. Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers should be content to slow this game down and rely on their defense to pick up a win, as this game should be low-scoring throughout.