by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Oct 17, 2022
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Where to watch: ESPN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Georgia Tech -3.5
FanDuel: Georgia Tech -3.5
BetMGM: Georgia Tech -3.5
Caesars: Georgia Tech -3.5
Season record
Virginia: 2-4 (0-3 ACC)
Georgia Tech: 3-3 (2-1 ACC)
We're about to hit the fun part of college football season where games start getting a little tighter, performances start to become a little more noteworthy, and times at the books are fun for all. You don't believe me? Look at our own Kyle Hunter posting a 25-7-0 run over the last month in college football. That's even with all of the upsets and everything in between. Week 7 is upon us and we're near the point where college football is every day. You want to get back into the swing of things with this? Make sure to follow our Best Bets page and see what our champion handicappers are up to at bigal.com. Who knows? With a little bit of faith in us, you can be like Kyle, or even have as good a run as Sean Murphy at 32-16-1 over the last 30 days. The choices are yours!
Virginia - Georgia Tech preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Virginia: lost 34-17 vs. Louisville
Georgia Tech: won 23-20 (OT) vs. Duke
Talk about an ACC contest that has seen both teams go on completely different trajectories than you would’ve expected a while ago. The Virginia Cavaliers, a once-consistent team that has always proven tough for some squads, have lost three in a row and will take on a Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets team that has won two straight thrillers and are suddenly creeping toward bowl contention.
Talk about an ACC contest that has seen both teams go on completely different trajectories than you would’ve expected a while ago. The Virginia Cavaliers, a once-consistent team that has always proven tough for some squads, have lost three in a row and will take on a Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets team that has won two straight thrillers and are suddenly creeping toward bowl contention.
This is going to be a game where offense really doesn’t rule the day, but it’s two teams that know how to run the football and have the tendency to do it well. Georgia Tech gets production from both the arms and legs of quarterback Jeff Sims, who threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns while running for 95 on the ground of his own.
Georgia Tech, outside of the Calvin Johnson days, has always been known as a running team. The Yellow Jackets average only 153 yards per game on the ground and just 178 through the air, but the offense has been timely in their last two wins against No. 24 Pittsburgh on the road, and a home 23-20 overtime victory over Duke.
"We went from trying not to lose and now we're learning how to win," Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key said. "That's a valuable lesson that these guys can take to the next game."
It’s the defense that has been very good as of late for GT. Duke came into that game averaging 35 points per game and held the Blue Devils to 20 points and 278 total yards. This is the kind of performance that can get Georgia Tech back to relevancy and bowl contention. But how much a couple of weeks can make. Ole Miss and UCF combined to beat Georgia Tech 69-10 before reeling off these two solid wins. Finding a way to do it against Virginia is the next step for GT.
Because Virginia’s offense is no longer a threat, a lot of onus has been on the defensive side, and the Cavaliers’ defense has held on for as long as it possibly can over the last few weeks. But it’s clearly been a problem across the board during their three-game losing streak. The offense has put up 20, 17 and 17 points respectively while giving up 22, 38 and 34. Clearly, this is a group that’s running out of gas.
Quarterback Brennan Armstrong is completing just over 50 percent of his passes, has more interceptions than touchdowns, and the offense is just averaging 17.8 points per game. Keep in mind this man threw for almost 4,500 yards and 31 touchdowns last year and would have probably gone pro. Now, his pro prospects are absolutely in the toilet right now.
Prediction
Virginia’s defense has tended to play well when needed, but it’s hard to think that actually happens at this point. Georgia Tech is playing well, is at home, and should be able to handle any pressure the Virginia defense can bring. Georgia Tech by 17
Betting trends
Virginia is 7-7 ATS as an underdog in its last 14.
Georgia Tech is 1-5 ATS as a favorite in its last six.
Georgia Tech is 3-10 ATS after playing two straight conference games the last three years.
Statistical leaders
Virginia:
Passing: Brennan Armstrong -- 1,363 yards, 5 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Perris Jones -- 320 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Keytaon Thompson -- 446 yards
Georgia Tech:
Passing: Jeff Sims -- 1,068 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Hassan Hall -- 330 yards
Receiving: Nate McCollum -- 283 yards, 1 TD
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
