The Virginia Tech Hokies thought they had solved their problems when they beat Ohio State. Then they lost at home to East Carolina. Georgia Tech will try to hit the Hokies hard when they play this Saturday on ESPN.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Saturday, September 20th – 12:00 PM ET
Odds: Virginia Tech -7.5
Why The Yellow Jackets Will Cover
They are playing a team whose offense just isn’t good enough right now. Virginia Tech threw for 298 passing yards last weekend against East Carolina, which sounds like a lot, but the Hokies were down 21-0 early in the game and had to throw the ball a lot. They gained their 298 passing yards on 56 passes, for an average of just over five yards per pass attempt, which isn’t that great at all. Virginia Tech managed only 91 rushing yards throughout the game and could not push East Carolina’s defensive linemen off the ball. East Carolina has not had a particularly strong rushing defense over the years, so Virginia Tech’s failure in that part of the game should really concern head coach Frank Beamer and his staff. Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer threw two interceptions as well and could have had a few other passes picked off if East Carolina defenders had been slightly more alert. Virginia Tech is dealing with so many problems on offense that even if Georgia Tech doesn’t score a huge amount of points, the Yellow Jackets could still win this game. A score in the mid-20s might very well be enough to win for Georgia Tech, and the Yellow Jackets’ triple option offense under head coach Paul Johnson is always very difficult for opponents to handle, especially with only one week of preparation. Defensive coordinators generally want to have a bye week if possible for the triple option, but Virginia Tech doesn’t have that luxury this week.
Why The Hokies Will Cover
They are playing a weak opponent, and are playing this game at home. Georgia Tech led Georgia Southern by 25 points last week, only to allow the Eagles to briefly take a lead before coming back to win the game in the final minute. That narrow win came at home, so it’s not as though the Yellow Jackets were playing in an uncomfortable environment. They lost focus, and their defense did not look good at all against a team it should have been able to contain. Virginia Tech might be struggling right now, especially on offense, but Georgia Tech’s defense could be weak enough to make the Hokies look a lot better once this game begins. The other simple point to mention about this matchup is that Virginia Tech has had Georgia Tech’s number over time. The Hokies have won six of the last seven against the Jackets. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster has been able to contain the Tech triple option. Georgia Tech has scored more than 21 points only once in the past four meetings against Virginia Tech. Foster is a man to be trusted.
Outlook
If Virginia Tech doesn’t commit a bunch of turnovers, and the Hokies can generally win field position in this game, they should hold the upper hand. Georgia Tech’s defense is likely to be a cure for Virginia Tech’s offensive ailments.
Pick: Virginia Tech -7.5
