Dukes Mayo Bowl Predictions: CBS Sports Expert Favors Minnesota in Matchup vs Virginia Tech
While all eyes might be on the College Football Playoff games today, there are still more bowl games left to be played afterward and one of them is the Dukes Mayo Bowl between Virginia Tech and Minnesota. The Hokies and the Golden Gophers are going to face each other in the Dukes Mayo Bowl and Minnesota is a comfortable favorite in the game. Currently, they are 8.5 point favorites in the game on Friday and they have been getting predictions to defeat Virginia Tech, including from the CBS Sports Staff:
"One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending: He's backing Minnesota (-8.5) against Virginia Tech in the 2025 Duke's Mayo Bowl on Jan. 3.
The Golden Gophers have some key betting trends working in their favor for this matchup. They were 9-2-1 against the spread this season and 4-1 ATS away from home. Head coach PJ Fleck is also 5-0 both straight up and ATS in bowl games. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, covered just once in its final four games this season."
Bleacher Report's David Kenyon is picking Minnesota as well. Kenyon picked every bowl game in a recent article and is picking Minnesota to win 24-20.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg gave his thoughts on the game and he is favoring the Golden Gophers:
"P.J. Fleck was born to play and coach football, brainstorm mottos and eventually douse himself in mayonnaise after winning a bowl game. Can't you see it now? Fleck's team wasn't far away from a much better season and boasts a solid formula of defense, Darius Taylor's running and quarterback Max Brosmer's efficient passing. Virginia Tech had far greater expectations than 6-6 this season, and could be facing some damaging personnel departures before January. The Hokies are very talented with running back Bhayshul Tuten, defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland and others, but there has been something missing all season. But Minnesota will win, setting up an epic mayo dump for Fleck."
The game will kickoff on January 3rd at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. This will mark Virginia Tech’s third time playing in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The Hokies hold a 1-1 record in the bowl game that was formerly known as the Belk Bowl. Most recently, Virginia Tech lost to Kentucky 37-30 in 2019. The Hokies’ only win in this bowl game was in 2016 when the No. 18 Hokies took down Arkansas 35-24.
The Hokies have now made consecutive bowl games for the first time since the 2019 and 2018 seasons. As it stands, Brent Pry is undefeated in bowl games with a 41-20 win against No. 23 Tulane in the Military Bowl last year.
On the other side, this is Minnesota’s fourth consecutive bowl game. The Gophers are 7-0 in their last seven bowl games and P.J. Fleck’s bowl game record as a head coach is 5-0.
This year, Minnesota holds a better record than Virginia Tech. The Gophers went 7-5 this year with a 5-4 record against the Big Ten. Fleck’s squad picked up some signature wins against No. 11 USC, No. 24 Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Virginia Tech just barely clinched bowl eligibility as the Hokies had four opportunities to get their sixth win on the season down the stretch. The Hokies played Syracuse, No. 23 Clemson, Duke, and Virginia. Syracuse and Duke narrowly beat the Hokies, and Clemson had their way, but the Hokies’ dominance in their in-state rivalry led them to another bowl game.
Related Links:
Virginia Tech Football: West Virginia OL Kyle Altuner Transfers to Virginia Tech
Duke’s Mayo Bowl Tickets: Cheapest and most expensive tickets to attend
Jackson Caudell has been covering Georgia Tech Athletics For On SI since March 2022 and the Atlanta Hawks for On SI since October 2023. Jackson is also the co-host of the Bleav in Georgia Tech podcast and he loves to bring thoughtful analysis and comprehensive coverage to everything that he does. Find him on X @jacksoncaudell