Virginia Tech and South Carolina will play in the Aflac Kickoff game in Atlanta on Saturday night. South Carolina comes into this game as a favorite in the heart of SEC country. But we will learn a lot about both of these teams in their first games of the 2025 season. Before the action begins at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, continue reading to get my Virginia Tech vs South Carolina prediction.
Our Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Pick
- Pick: South Carolina -7.5
- Confidence: 4/5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Virginia Tech vs South Carolina
- Date & Time: Sunday, August 31, 2025, 3:00 PM EDT
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- Broadcast: ESPN
Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina –7.5 | SCAR –300 / VT +250 | 52.5 |
Key Storylines
- Beamer family connection: South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer faces his alma mater in this game. Virginia Tech is where his father Frank built a legacy and led the program to sustained success.
- South Carolina’s upward trajectory: The Gamecocks finished strong last year. They won six straight games before falling against Illinois in the Citrus Bowl. They return key players like QB LaNorris Sellers and DE Dylan Stewart.
- Hokies in rebuild mode: Virginia Tech endured a disappointing 6-7 season in 2024. They replaced both coordinators and made a ton of transfer portal changes in the offseason. It will be interesting to see how those changes impact their level of play and their cohesion.
Quarterback Play
South Carolina will rely on LaNorris Sellers at quarterback. Sellers is an early Heisman contender expected to elevate his game in his second year as the starter behind a quality offensive line. Virginia Tech has Kyron Drones as their quarterback. Drones returns under center amid wide receiver turnover and changes in offensive leadership. Drones will look to avoid problems amid all of the changes around him.
Betting Trends & H2H
- This is the first meeting between these teams since 1991. South Carolina leads the all-time series between these teams 11-7-2.
- Virginia Tech went 8-5 to the over in their games last season.
- South Carolina was 7-6 to the over in their games during the 2024 season.
- Virginia Tech went 6-7 against the spread a season ago.
- South Carolina was 9-4 ATS last year. That was tied for the sixth-best ATS record in college football.
Virginia Tech vs South Carolina Model Projection
Score Projection: South Carolina 31 – Virginia Tech 20
Win Probability: South Carolina 71%, Virginia Tech 29%
Final Thoughts
This game is a nice litmus test right out of the gate for South Carolina. They have a chance to play a power conference team but not one that is ranked or thought to be a serious threat. I think the Gamecocks take advantage of this opportunity and win by double-digits in the neutral site matchup. Laying the points with Sellers and the Gamecocks seems like the right move here.
