Virginia vs. Georgia Tech (10/20 @ 7:30 p.m. EST.)
Line: Georgia Tech -3
Total: 47
Virginia vs Georgia Tech Breakdown and Betting Odds
The Virginia Cavaliers (2-4) are heading to Atlanta to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Yellow Jackets are 3-point favorites over the Cavaliers. The over/under is set at 47 points.
Virginia and Georgia Tech have met 43 times with both teams winning 21 times. In 1984, they tied. Recently, the home team has dominated the series with just one road win since 2010 (Georgia Tech in 2013). Virginia has won the last two matchups, but they have not won in Atlanta since 2008.
Virginia Overview
After a 2-1 start, the wheels have come off for the Cavaliers. They opened their seasons with wins over FCS Richmond and Old Dominion sandwiching a loss to a currently ranked Illinois side. However, Virginia has entered ACC play with a three-game losing streak. After a close loss at Syracuse, Virginia has lost by a combined 38 points in their last two games. Virginia has one of the worst offenses in college football, ranking 122nd in scoring.
Quarterback Brennan Armstrong has struggled mightily. The fifth-year senior has more interceptions than touchdown passes just one year after being one of the top passers in the conference. While he does have three rushing touchdowns, it is less than ideal for Armstrong to be the team’s leader in rushing touchdowns. Perris Jones and Xavier Brown have been reasonably efficient on the ground, but Virginia has not had many opportunities to run the football.
Defensively, the Cavaliers are led by Chico Bennett Jr.’s four sacks and Anthony Johnson’s pair of interceptions. Virginia allows 24.8 points per game, 60th-best in FBS. However, they are allowing 65.6% of passes to be complete, and opposing offenses are averaging375 yards per game against Virginia.
In Virginia’s last five games, they are 1-4 ATS. Their lone win ATS came as 9.5-point underdogs against Syracuse. They have blown two games as favorites, and they have a pair of 21-point losses in games they were underdogs by under five points. The under is 3-2 in their last five games, but the over has hit in both of Virginia’s games since October began.
Georgia Tech Overview
After an ugly start to the season, the Yellow Jackets have responded by winning a pair of ACC games. They are now 3-3, but they are 2-0 since firing Geoff Collins. Neither victory has been particularly impressive, but Pittsburgh was ranked, and Duke is above .500 now. Since making the coaching change, Georgia Tech has been significantly better on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Georgia Tech is even more challenged than Virginia, but they have averaged 24.5 points per game under coach Brent Key. Quarterback Jeff Sims has had issues completing passes (58.8%), but he has a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio. In traditional Georgia Tech fashion, the Yellow Jackets have a solid multi-faceted rushing attack. Sims, Hassan Hall, and Dontae Smith are all over 200 yards already, and Smith leads the team with three touchdowns. In the passing game, Nate McCollum leads the team in receptions and receiving yards. E.J. Jenkins leads the team in receiving touchdowns.
Georgia Tech has a middling defense, allowing 28 points per game (76th in FBS). However, they have faced a brutal schedule including three ranked opponents. Since their 42-point loss against Ole Miss, Georgia Tech is allowing 22.7 points per game, down from over 33 points per game in their first three games.
The Yellow Jackets are 3-2 ATS in their last five games including three consecutive covers. Hilariously, the under is 4-0-1 in those games with a push in Georgia Tech’s win over Pittsburgh. This will be the first time the Yellow Jackets have been favored since their clash with FCS Western Carolina.
TakingVegas.com Pick: Georgia Tech -3
While it is tempting to pick another under on Georgia Tech’s schedule, the number continues to go lower and lower. Neither defense is particularly good, but the Yellow Jackets have been playing better football. Georgia Tech -3 would be a continuation of the recent home-dominated series between the Cavaliers and Yellow Jackets. It also would be a continuation of Georgia Tech’s effective play since changing coaches.
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