Two schools that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Paul Johnson and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+4) are gearing up to face off against their in-conference rival No. 24 Virginia Tech Hokies (-4) at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET and ESPN will broadcast the action.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Preview
In this Thursday Atlantic Coast game, Virginia Tech is getting picked as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 4 points. The Yellow Jackets are also receiving +155 moneyline odds while the Hokies are -175. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 57.5 points. There could be some good live betting opportunities during the contest.
The sharp action has been siding with the Yellow Jackets. The opening line was initially -5 and the O/U was originally pegged at 58.
The disappointing Yellow Jackets are down 4.7 units this season and 2-5 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-2. The Hokies have been a nice surprise for moneyline bettors this year, gaining 4.7 units. The team is 3-3 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Yellow Jackets are 3-4 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against conference opponents. The Hokies are 4-2 SU overall and 3-0 SU in conference play.
The Yellow Jackets are looking to get back on track after a 28-14 loss to Duke on October 13 where the Yellow Jackets completed 7-of-17 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown. TaQuon Marshall went five-for-11 for 91 yards and one touchdown while Tobias Oliver completed two-of-six for 34 yards. Marshall (41 yards on 16 rush attempts) also led the ground attack in the loss and was complemented by Jordan Mason (39 yards on 12 carries). Brad Stewart (two receptions, 46 yards) and Nathan Cottrell (two catches, six yards) shared the receiving duties.
Virginia Tech is coming off of a 22-19 win over North Carolina back in Week 7. The defensive unit let the Tar Heels run for 235 yards on 38 rush attempts. Michael Carter was a bright spot in the loss, recording 165 rushing yards on 18 attempts for North Carolina. For Virginia Tech, Ryan Willis completed 20-of-36 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Willis (88 yards on 15 rush attempts, one TD) and Steven Peoples (41 yards on 14 carries) handled the ground game in the win while Sean Savoy (six receptions, 58 yards, one TD) and Eric Kumah (five catches, 58 yards) led all Virginia Tech pass-catchers.
Georgia Tech’s run the ball on 82.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Virginia Tech has a rush percentage of 55.7 percent. The Yellow Jackets have run for 352 yards/game (including 309 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 30 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Hokies are logging 184 rushing yards per game (116 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
The Yellow Jackets offensive scheme has logged 101 yards per game through the air overall (65 per game against conference opposition) and has four passing TDs so far. The Hokies have put up 272 pass yards per game (253.3 against ACC foes) and have 13 total pass scores.
Defensively, Georgia Tech appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 137 yards and pass for 230 yards per game. The Virginia Tech defense has allowed 295.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 123.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Yellow Jackets are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.81 to opposing QBs, while the Hokies have given up a 6.73 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Marshall has amassed 633 yards this year, and has connected on 35-of-74 attempts with three scores through the air and four interceptions. Marshall’s got a 5.77 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 8.14 over the last two outings.
TaQuon Marshall (423 rushing yards, seven rush TDs, 0 receiving yards this season), Jerry Howard (199 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Tobias Oliver (342 rush yards, five rush TDs, 0 receiving yards) have all played big roles recently.
Ryan Willis has completed 50-of-88 passes for 748 yards, six TDs and two INTs for Virginia Tech. His ANY/A stands at 7.90 for the year and 4.60 across his past two outings.
Damon Hazelton, Steven Peoples and Eric Kumah have combined to account for 436 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns the last two outings.
These two schools faced off last year with the final result being a 28-22 win for Georgia Tech.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
SU Winner – Georgia Tech, ATS Winner – Georgia Tech, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
Virginia Tech has lost two fumbles this season while Georgia Tech has lost eight.
The Virginia Tech D has sacked opposing QBs 17 times this year. Georgia Tech has produced 12 sacks.
Georgia Tech has averaged 6.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.1 over its last two.
Virginia Tech has averaged 3.2 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.9 over its past two.
In its last three matchups, Virginia Tech is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Georgia Tech’s previous game was set at 55.5. The under cashed in the team’s 28-14 defeat to Duke.
Over its last three games, Georgia Tech is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Virginia Tech’s previous match was set at 57.5. The under cashed in the team’s 22-19 victory over North Carolina.
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