FBS-CFB Game Preview: Vanderbilt Commodores (1-0) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (0-1)

0
33

Venue & Kickoff

Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM ET

Broadcast: ACC Network

Capacity: 65,632

Atmosphere Note: Hokies’ famed Enter Sandman entrance expected to be in full force for the home opener

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Clear skies, mild evening

Temperature: ~74°F at kickoff

Wind: Light, 3–5 mph

Precipitation: 0%

Impact: Ideal football weather; no environmental advantage

Injury Report

Virginia Tech

No major injuries reported after Week 1 loss to South Carolina

Vanderbilt

No significant injuries reported after Week 1 win over Charleston Southern

Team Records & Recent Form

Virginia Tech: QB Kyron Drones threw for 221 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT; run game managed just 3.1 YPC vs. Gamecocks.

Vanderbilt: QB Diego Pavia completed 80% of passes for 275 yds, 3 TD; defense allowed only 135 total yds.

Key Player Matchups

QB Diego Pavia (VAN) vs. VT Secondary

Pavia: 20/25, 275 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT; 44 rush yds

Hokies allowed 200+ pass yds on just 12 completions in Week 1

RB Sedrick Alexander (VAN) vs. LB Keli Lawson (VT)

Alexander: 83 rush yds (6.9 YPC), 1 rec TD

Lawson: Veteran tackler, key in run fits

WR Eli Stowers (VAN) vs. CB Mansoor Delane (VT)

Stowers: 4 rec, 86 yds

Delane: 4 INTs in 2024

QB Kyron Drones (VT) vs. VAN Pass Rush

Drones: 15/35, 221 yds, 2 INT; 26 rush yds

Vanderbilt front: 3 sacks vs. Charleston Southern

WR Donavon Greene (VT) vs. CB CJ Taylor (VAN)

Greene: 3 rec, 94 yds

Taylor: 2 INTs in 2024

Series History

All-Time: Virginia Tech leads 6–4

Last Meeting: Vanderbilt 34–27 (OT) in 2024, rallying after losing a 17–0 lead

Streak: Vanderbilt 1 win (2024)

Betting Trends

Virginia Tech: 0–1 ATS in 2025; 6–6 ATS in 2024; UNDER in 4 of last 5

Vanderbilt: 1–0 ATS in 2025; 9–4 ATS in 2024; UNDER in both 2025 and 2024 openers

Vanderbilt 5–5 SU in last 10 as underdog; VT 6–3 SU as favorite in 2024

Game Odds

Vanderbilt Commodores              45.5                      

Virginia Tech Hokies                       – 1.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025