Virginia Tech ends skid against Georgia Tech, but the second-half fade follows it to Clemson

Virginia Tech ended a two-game losing streak Saturday with a 34-24 win over Georgia Tech in Blacksburg. The Hokies are now 5-2 and one win from bowl eligibility. How they won is the bigger worry. Virginia Tech led 24-3 at halftime and then lost the second half 21-10. Georgia Tech got within seven points in the third quarter before the Hokies regained control.

The first half belonged to wide receiver Que'Sean Brown. According to Virginia Tech Hokies On SI, Brown caught six passes for a career-high 182 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown on the opening drive. He added a 63-yard punt return in the fourth quarter that set up a 24-yard field goal by John Love. That kick meant something for Love, whose miss against Pittsburgh two weeks earlier drew a lot of attention. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer finished 15 of 22 for 250 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The outlet counts 20 total touchdowns for him this season, five of them rushing, against two interceptions.

The split between halves tells the rest. Grunkemeyer threw for 215 yards before halftime and 35 after it, and the run game also slowed down in the third quarter. Virginia Tech led 309-149 in total yards at the break. Georgia Tech still finished ahead in yardage, 428 total yards, as Alberto Mendoza completed 29 of 38 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns. That was the most passing yards the Hokies have allowed this season. The outlet also points out that Virginia Tech has now been outscored after halftime in three straight games. In the two games before this one, that turned close games into a 35-33 home loss to Pittsburgh and a 25-20 loss at California.

What it means for Clemson

Virginia Tech plays at Clemson on Saturday, October 24, on ESPN. The Hokies are 3-0 on the road against Maryland, Boston College and California, but their two losses came by a combined seven points. The board's 11 venues have Clemson as a modest favorite. Novig prices Clemson at -138 on the moneyline, and the best Clemson price anywhere is FanDuel's -134. Virginia Tech is +133 on Novig. The spread is Clemson -2.5 at most venues, with Novig at -115 and Hard Rock Bet at -110. Pinnacle has Virginia Tech at +3 for -111. Novig sets the total at 49.5 and BetMGM's lowest is 48.5. Sportsbook hold runs from about 4% to just under 7% across the markets. With a spread under a field goal, the market sees this as close to even. Virginia Tech's second-half problems and a pass defense that just allowed 335 yards are the main reasons the Hokies aren't viewed more favorably. Full prices are on the game page.

Georgia Tech falls to 2-4. Four of its losses were within one score or close to it, including a 14-13 loss to Colorado and a 34-27 loss at Stanford. The Yellow Jackets host Boston College on the ACC Network the same day and are favored. Novig has Georgia Tech at -203 on the moneyline, and Hard Rock Bet's -200 is the best price. The spreads don't match: Novig has the Jackets at -5.5, Hard Rock Bet has -4.5, and BetMGM has Boston College at +6. Novig's total for that game is 50.5. The game page tracks the line as it moves.