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South Carolina vs Virginia Tech Prediction, Game Preview & Betting Lines: College Football 2025

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Aug 28, 2025 1:44 AM ET

This might be lost a bit with Notre Dame vs Miami coming up right after, but this is still one of the better matchups of the weekend.

When we last saw Virginia Tech, it was struggling in a Duke's Mayo Bowl loss to Minnesota to finish with a losing season. This is the first of back-to-back SEC games, dealing with Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt after this, but win, and there's a real shot at a 4-0 start with things easing up before diving into ACC play.

When we last saw South Carolina, it fell hook, line, and sinker for Bret Bielema's troll job in Illinois' Citrus Bowl win. But that might turn out to be a positive - this is a cranked-up team around star quarterback LaNorris Sellers.

These two first played in 1925 - a 6-0 Virginia Tech win - and 18 times since then. However, they haven't played since a South Carolina win in 1991.

College Football 2025 Week 1: South Carolina vs Virginia Tech Preview, Prediction & Odds

South Carolina vs Virginia Tech How To Watch

Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Why Virginia Tech Will Win

The passing game can work if star quarterback Kyron Drones gets enough time to work. He's great when healthy, the receiving corps has the parts to be deadly, and there's a deep group of backs to keep a good rotation going.

The South Carolina defense will be great as the season goes on, but the top tacklers are gone from the linebacking corps, and there's some reworking on the line.

Defensively, if this is anything like last year, keeping the score low is everything. Virginia Tech was unbeaten when allowing fewer than 24 points, winless when giving up that many or more, but ...

Why South Carolina Will Win

South Carolina 2-2 when scoring fewer than 24 points. The offense is too good to be held down.

The backfield will have a great rotation, the receivers will be explosive, and Sellers is amazing enough to make everyone else shine. The Hokie defense will win its share of battles, but as long as Sellers comes up with a few early scoring drives, the Gamecock defensive front should take over from there.

As good as the Hokies will be offensively, the line is still a question mark. It allowed way too many sacks and plays in the backfield, and now it's about to feel the heat from a USC line that will keep the pressure on.

South Carolina vs Virginia Tech Who Will Win

Virginia Tech's defense will be the underappreciated star early on.

It'll do plenty of bending without breaking, but the offense won't be able to take advantage of the opportunities. The D will get the takeaways, but the O will only come up with field goals.

Sellers and company will break through in the second half.

South Carolina vs Virginia Tech Prediction, Betting Lines

South Carolina 30, Virginia Tech 16
Consensus Line: Virginia Tech -7.5, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Must See Rating: 4

Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This article first appeared on College Football News and was syndicated with permission.

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