Two teams that prefer to keep it on the ground, Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall and the No. 23 Virginia Cavaliers (+7) are gearing up to face off against their ACC counterpart Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (-7) at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. This key afternoon matchup is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and CHSS will televise the action.
Virginia Cavaliers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Betting Preview
In this Saturday Atlantic Coast game, Georgia Tech is labeled as the favorite and is currently giving up 7 points. The Cavaliers are also receiving +210 moneyline odds while the Yellow Jackets are -270. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 54 points, and if one side finds paydirt early, it will probably create a nice live betting opportunity.
Sharp bettors are siding with the under. The game’s O/U was initially set at 55.
The profitable Cavaliers are 7-3 against the spread (ATS) and have recorded 3.3 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an O/U mark of 4-5. The Yellow Jackets have lost 1.4 units this season. The team is 5-5 ATS and has an O/U record of 6-3.
The Cavaliers are 7-3 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against ACC opponents. The Yellow Jackets are 6-4 SU overall and 4-3 SU in conference play.
The Wahoos hope to make it two in a row 45-24 victory over Liberty last week. The Wahoos defense allowed the Flames to run for 205 yards on 44 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. On the offensive side of the ball, Bryce Perkins completed 14-of-22 passes for just 168 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jordan Ellis (106 yards on 25 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Perkins (89 yards on nine carries, two TDs) led the ground attack. Olamide Zaccheaus (seven receptions, 86 yards) and Hasise Dubois (three catches, 23 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Georgia Tech is coming off of a 27-21 win over Miami (FL). As a group, the Yellow Jackets collectively completed three-of-four passes for 73 yards and one touchdown. TaQuon Marshall went three-for-four for 73 yards and one touchdown while Nathan Cottrell was -of- for yards. Marshall (92 yards on 24 rush attempts, two TDs) and Jerry Howard (56 yards on 12 carries) handled the running game as Jalen Camp (two receptions, 42 yards) and Brad Stewart (one catch, 31 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Virginia has run the ball on 58.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Georgia Tech has an overall rush percentage of 86.8 percent. The Cavaliers have produced 175 rush yards/game (including 145 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 16 scores on the ground this year. The Yellow Jackets are totaling 362 rushing yards per game (342 in conference) and have 43 total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season are any indication, then it seems like the Yellow Jackets ought to hold an advantage when it comes to quarterback protection. Their offensive line has given up only 11 sacks while their D-line has registered 13 sacks. The Cavaliers O-line has given up 26 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss just 21 times.
The Wahoos offense has averaged 201 yards in the air overall (195 per game against conference opposition) and has 18 passing TDs so far. The Yellow Jackets have put up 88 pass yards per outing (62.4 against ACC foes) and have six total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Virginia seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed 136 rush yards and 193 pass yards per game. The Georgia Tech defense has given up 218.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 137.8 yards per game on the ground. The Wahoos are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.57 to opponents, while the Yellow Jackets have given up a 5.94 ANY/A.
Offensively, Perkins is up to 1,791 passing yards this season, and has connected on 63 percent of his 239 attempts with 17 passing scores and nine interceptions. He has a 6.13 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.71 over the last two outings.
In the other locker room, Tobias Oliver has completed 4-of-10 passes for 62 yards, one TD and zero INTs. Oliver’s ANY/A stands at for the season and 62.00 across his past two games.
When these two schools met a year ago, Virginia earned the win 40-36.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Prediction: Virginia Cavaliers vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
SU Winner – Georgia Tech, ATS Winner – Georgia Tech, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
Georgia Tech has lost 12 fumbles this season while Virginia has let five get away.
The Virginia defense has sacked opposing QBs 21 times this season. Georgia Tech has recorded just 13 sacks.
Virginia has averaged 4.3 yards per rush attempt over its last three outings and 4.1 over its last two.
Georgia Tech has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.4 over its past two.
Over its last three games, Georgia Tech is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Virginia’s last game was set at 57.5. The over cashed in the team’s 45-24 victory over Liberty.
In its last three matchups, Virginia is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Georgia Tech’s last outing was 51. The under cashed in that 27-21 win over Miami (FL).
Virginia has won five of its last six games SU, with a November 2nd defeat to Pittsburgh representing the only loss over that span.
Georgia Tech has won six of its last seven games SU, with a -14-point loss to Duke on October 13th accounting for the only defeat over that span.
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