Duke Football: A gambling preview of Duke and Virginia Tech

As Duke Football gets set to take the field on Saturday night, we take a look at what Vegas things about the primetime matchup in Durham.

Duke football fans are in a familiar spot: Duke is 4-0.

This time last season the Blue Devils were getting ready for a six game losing streak that almost cost their spot in a bowl game. That six game losing streak began under the Saturday night lights at Wallace Wade Stadium against No. 14 ranked Miami. You might remember it didn’t go so well for the Blue Devils.

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Saturday night the Blue Devils have their shot at redemption.

Duke is the only undefeated team in the ACC’s Coastal Division but has yet to play a conference game.

Coming into Durham will be the Virginia Tech Hokies, fresh off a loss to Old Dominion University – yes Old Dominion University. Unlike Miami in 2017, Virginia Tech has fallen out of the AP Top 25 rankings and comes in as an unranked opponent. The Duke Blue Devils cracked the poll at No. 22 this week.

Duke opens this week as a three and a half point favorite against Virginia Tech, according to OddsShark, but have now risen to a five point favorite.

Undoubtedly, this line reflects Virginia Tech’s loss at ODU last week, and when betting this game that fact should be remembered.

While Vegas might factor in a loss against a “bottom 10 team,” Duke fans would do well to remember that in-state rivalry games are whacky.

The game last Saturday was the biggest game in Old Dominion’s history. Coupled with the familiarity between players growing up in the same state, and Old Dominion has their perfect storm en route to a victory.

When betting Duke vs. Virginia Tech, consider this: Duke is 3-1 against the spread this season with the one loss coming last week against North Carolina Central – a game which Duke won 55-13 but failed to cover the 46 point spread.

However, Virginia Tech is 12-2 against the Blue Devils since 2004 and undefeated at Wallace Wade Stadium.

The Hokies will be without starting quarterback Josh Jackson, coming into the season Virginia Tech was ranked was No. 20 in the AP Poll and jumped to No.13 after a 24-3 win over Florida State in their season opener.

History favors the Hokies, but the Blue Devils are the hot team. The best bet here will be the over at 51 points.

Duke comes in averaging 37.5 points per game and Tech at 40.3. When it comes to the game itself, Dukies look away, I’ll take Virginia Tech and the points.

The loss at ODU puts this game over the top for me.

Tech will be more motivated this week than any other week this season looking to get back on track and prove last week was just a fluke.

While my wallet might hurt if Duke comes out with a win this Saturday, my heart won’t. Look for a high scoring close game at Wallace Wade.

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