The Virginia Cavaliers are favored by 11.5 points over Coastal Carolina according to Fanduel Odds. UVA is -430 to win and -120 to cover in the first game of Tony Elliott’s fourth season. The over-under is set at 58.5 points.
Virginia’s success in the transfer portal this offseason has expectations higher than would be expected for a team whose coach is squarely on the hot seat. The line against the Chanticleers is informed by UVA’s transfer portal revamp and Coastal’s relative downturn under the leadership
of head coach Tim Beck.
A familiar name to Wahoo fans and ACC football enjoyers will start for the Chanticleers on Saturday: MJ Morris. Morris started his career at NC State before playing for the Maryland Terrapins in 2024. Morris gets the nod after Emmett Brown (previously of San Jose State and Washington State) went down for the season in fall camp. While Morris will be the first Chanticleer under center, don’t be surprised if Tad Hudson or Samari Collier filter in throughout the game.
Virginia boat-raced Coastal Carolina on the road last year, toppling the Chanticleers 43-24 behind a dominant performance on the ground spearheaded by Xavier Brown. Brown rushed for 171 yards including a 75-yarder down the sideline. As a team, the ‘Hoos gained a whopping 400 yards on the ground.
Expect the ‘Hoos to try to big boy the Chanticleers in the trenches yet again. The Cavalier offensive line has suffered some costly offseason injuries, but still has size on Coastal up front and should be able to create holes for Brown, J’Mari Taylor, and Harrison Waylee to get to the second level.
