Virginia Tech vs. Clemson Prediction, CFB Week 8 Odds & Best Bets (10/24)

Fact checked at 7:10 AM ET, Oct 24, 2026

Odds as of 7:09 AM ET, Oct 24, 2026

Virginia Tech (5-2, 2-2 ACC) can become bowl-eligible in James Franklin's first season with a win at Clemson (4-2, 2-1 ACC), which has won the last seven meetings. Kickoff is 7:00 PM ET at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., and Clemson is a 2.5-point favorite with the total at 48.5.

Virginia Tech has the better quarterback. Ethan Grunkemeyer has thrown for 1,984 yards with 15 touchdowns and two interceptions, while Clemson has two touchdown passes as a team, the fewest in the FBS, with true freshman Tait Reynolds starting since Christopher Vizzina hurt his elbow in Week 2. Grunkemeyer's numbers lean heavily on home games, though: 1,235 yards and 10 touchdown passes in four home games, 749 yards and five in three on the road. We expect a lower-scoring night than the Hokies' season suggests. Clemson's run-first offense should stall against Virginia Tech's front, the Hokies won't score as freely in Death Valley, and when they do get close, Grunkemeyer has been the one carrying it in.

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson Predictions

• Pick #1: Ethan Grunkemeyer Anytime Touchdown (+235)
• Pick #2: Under 48.5 (-108)

PICK #1: Ethan Grunkemeyer Anytime Touchdown (+235)

Grunkemeyer has run for a touchdown in five of Virginia Tech's six games against FBS teams: Old Dominion, Maryland, Pitt, California and Georgia Tech, with Boston College the only miss. These are goal-line plays: his longest run of the day was two yards against Old Dominion and Pitt and four yards at California. His workload has grown, too, from four carries at Maryland and three at Boston College to six against Pitt, nine at Cal and 13 against Georgia Tech. His rushing yardage looks small or negative because college football counts sacks as runs, but the touchdowns show his role near the end zone.

Clemson has had trouble with this exact play against the better offenses on its schedule. LSU's Sam Leavitt ran for two touchdowns against the Tigers, and Miami's Darian Mensah ran for one.

+235 implies a 29.9% chance. He has scored in five of six FBS games, so his true rate could be well below that pace and this would still be a fair price.

Running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. can steal the short carries, and a Virginia Tech touchdown pass does nothing for this bet. Friday's availability report also lists four Virginia Tech offensive linemen as out, which can make short-yardage plays harder. Grunkemeyer has thrown every Virginia Tech pass in the last five games and is expected to start, but that won't be official until the game-day report.

PICK #2: Under 48.5 (-108)

Clemson can't score much. Against FBS teams the Tigers have put up 10, 22, 28, 24 and 13 points, 19.4 a game, with eight offensive touchdowns in those five games. Stalled drives end in field goals: Nolan Hauser has made 14 of 15 over Clemson's last five games. Clemson's three FBS wins finished with 29, 48 and 34 total points, all below this number.

The Tigers lean on Gideon Davidson and the run game, and Virginia Tech has allowed 102.7 rushing yards a game to FBS opponents, with only Boston College reaching 150. Virginia Tech's 23 sacks rank fifth in the country, and Clemson has given up 17 in six games, near the bottom of the FBS. Clemson's defense held Georgia Southern, North Carolina and California to 7, 20 and 10 points, and Virginia Tech has scored 35, 21 and 20 in its three road games.

The -108 price implies 51.9%.

Virginia Tech's own games are the risk: four of its six against FBS teams went over 48.5, and the two good offenses Clemson faced, LSU and Miami, scored 51 and 41. Reynolds is expected to make another start, but he isn't confirmed until the game-day report.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.